Emirates officially unveiled its first A350 at a special showcase in Dubai today after an earlier postponement due to Airbus delivery delays.
Airbus delivered the A350-900 to Emirates on Monday (Nov. 27) in Toulouse, France, before the aircraft was ferried to Dubai. The delivery flight ran on a combination of jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The aircraft is the first of 65 A350s due for delivery to Emirates over the next few years. The Emirates fleet has until now consisted only of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. With its new addition, Emirates aims to accommodate growing passenger travel demand.
The A350 will complete its inaugural commercial flight to Edinburgh on January 3, 2025. Future destinations include Bahrain, Muscat, Kuwait, Lyon, Bologna, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, said:
The 65 Emirates A350s joining our fleet in the coming years fit into the airline’s broader plans to support our visionary leadership’s Dubai’s D33 Strategy, which will transform the city into a pivotal hub in the global economy by expanding its connectivity and reach.
Phillipe Mhun, Executive Vice President of Programmes & Services at Airbus said:
Marking a new chapter for Airbus, we expect the A350 to become an integral member of the Emirates’ fleet and support its continued growth and sustainability ambitions.
Features of Emirates’ new A350
The aircraft features three cabin classes accommodating up to 312 passengers, including 32 Business Class seats, 21 Premium Economy seats and 259 Economy Class seats.
Emirates promises increased space, with higher ceilings and wider aisles. The A350 introduces new technologies including two-shade electric window blinds, touchscreen call buttons for cabin crew service, and instant in-flight menu visibility.
The entertainment system features 4K and 4K HR picture quality, as well as an “eye comfort mode” to reduce blue light exposure. There will also be faster Wi-Fi, costing over $2 million USD per aircraft.
Customers will experience quieter cabins, as the A350 is currently considered one of the most fuel-efficient large wide-body aircraft. To make travel more accessible and inclusive, the aircraft was designed in partnership with visual impairment advocacy groups.
As the airline’s first new aircraft model since 2008, the A350 marks Emirates’ commitment to innovation and growth.
Have you flown in an A350 aircraft? Let us know in the comments below!
