EMIRATES Airline said it had taken ‘no position’ on the fate of its $13 billion order for Airbus A380 superjumbo planes and denied media reports, which said the deal was in jeopardy.
Airbus earlier confirmed that fresh delays were expected for the 12-billion-euro ($15.21 billion) project.
Emirates president Tim Clark said in a statement: “Emirates awaits clarification from Airbus as to when the rescheduled delivery dates are going to be, and has taken no position with regard to cancellation, compensation, damages, etc. Emirates is concerned primarily with establishing exactly when the aircraft will be delivered company in order that it can continue its planned expansion.”
The airline denied media reports citing an Emirates spokeswoman which said its order, the largest Airbus has won for the plane, was being reconsidered. “This report is wrong. Nothing has changed. The order still stands,” Emirates spokesman Boutros Boutros said in Dubai.
A third delay in delivering the planes, caused by trouble wiring the aircraft, means some airlines will receive their planes more than a year later than expected.
Airbus faces late charges from airlines which will be forced to lease other planes to fill planned routes and frequencies until their A380s arrive. Some carriers have said they might cancel orders. Airbus has booked 159 orders for the Airbus A380 from 16 customers including 13 airlines, two package delivery firms and one aircraft leasing firm.
BANGALORE, TUNIS
Emirates has announced the launch of its eight-flights-a-week service to the Indian IT hub of Bangalore from October 29. The airline has launched special fares to Dubai, the US and Europe. The offer, valid from October 29 to November 30, starts at Rs14,000 ($305) to Dubai and Rs38,000 to New York and Rs20,000 to many destinations in Europe.
Emirates’ services to Tunis, which also begin October 29, will be operated in a modern Airbus A330-200 aircraft in three- and two-class configurations.
Meanwhile, the airline has already begun flying daily to the Chinese capital of Beijing, operating the route with its Airbus A340-300, offering 267 seats in a three-class configuration and 13 tonnes of cargo capacity.