Emirates President Tim Clark has signaled that the airline will hold off on ordering Airbus SE’s A350-1000, the largest aircraft in the manufacturer’s A350 lineup, citing ongoing concerns over engine durability and performance.
The move comes just a day after Emirates committed to 65 additional Boeing 777X jets at the Dubai Air Show, underscoring the carrier’s preference for Boeing’s widebody program at a time when both manufacturers face their own sets of challenges.
Engine performance key to Emirates’ hesitation
Clark reiterated his long-standing criticism of the Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc engines that power the A350-1000, saying that Emirates will not proceed until it sees how the upgraded engine version performs in flight tests beginning in 2028.
“Not out of the frame, we need to see how she performs on the wings,” Clark said, emphasizing that Emirates will reassess once real-world performance data is available.
The comments deal a blow to Airbus’s ongoing push to land a major A350-1000 order from the world’s largest international airline.
Emirates currently operates the smaller A350-900, which Clark has repeatedly praised as a “peach” in terms of performance, making the contrast with the -1000 model’s engine issues particularly stark.
Boeing gains momentum with major 777X commitment
Emirates’ fresh order for 65 Boeing 777X aircraft strengthens Boeing’s position at a time when the program continues to grapple with significant certification delays.
Despite the setbacks, Clark expressed confidence in the aircraft’s long-term potential, revealing that Emirates is exploring feasibility studies for a stretched 777X variant.
Concepts under discussion include fuselage extensions, wing modifications, and potential tweaks to General Electric engines to provide additional lift.
Clark’s openness toward a stretched 777X underscores Emirates’ reliance on high-capacity jets to support its long-haul network strategy.
By contrast, Clark noted that a stretched Airbus A350-1000 would require an entirely new engine, something not currently in development.
Airbus is working on a conceptual design, but Clark said he has not been provided with specifics.
787 order under review as fleet strategy evolves
Emirates also holds an order for 35 Boeing 787s, though Clark said the airline is keeping its final decision on configuration “up its sleeve.”
The carrier is leaning toward the larger 787-10 variant, a model designed for high-density routes but with more limited range than its smaller counterparts.
The decisions form part of Emirates’ broader fleet renewal and expansion strategy, which is increasingly shaped by engine reliability, manufacturer backlogs, and the evolving economics of long-haul travel.
Clark’s cautious stance reflects both operational priorities and the high costs associated with ultra-long-haul aircraft underperforming on efficiency metrics.
As Emirates pushes for aircraft that meet its stringent performance requirements, the balance of power between Boeing and Airbus in the widebody segment continues to shift, at least for now, toward the 777X program.
Whether Airbus can regain ground will hinge on Rolls-Royce’s ability to deliver engine improvements in the years ahead.
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