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Over the weekend, Emirates announced an order for 50 additional Airbus A380s, bringing the airline’s total orders to 140 aircraft and sustaining 2,500 jobs in the British aerospace sector. Separately, Etihad has ordered 50 A350s which will help sustain 4,000 jobs over the next three years. These orders underscore the important role of civil aerospace in the UK economy.
The Prime Minister, who visited the show on Saturday said: “I visited the Airbus pavilion yesterday and discussed these deals with the Ruler of Dubai and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and I’m delighted that Airbus has had such a strong start to the show. The A380 programme is worth £15 billion to our economy and this order from Emirates is a further vote of confidence in the skills of the workforce at Filton, where the A380’s wings are designed, and Broughton where they are assembled.”
Every five minutes, an A380 either takes off or lands at one of the 34 airports where it operates today and the network is constantly growing. Commenting on the order, Fabrice Brégier, Airbus CEO and President said: “By strategically placing the A380 at the centre of its business, Emirates is maximizing its leading position with each day of operations. Emirates has understood from the start the A380s advantages in terms of efficiency, economics and passenger comfort. It continues to be a true crowd-puller and contributor to the rapid development of its Dubai hub.”
The Etihad order included fifty A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body), a new mid-size, long range product that brings a 25 percent step change in efficiency compared with existing aircraft in its size category. Fabrice Brégier said: “We look forward to seeing Etihad benefit from the unbeatable economics and best-in-class comfort all our aircraft offer, ensuring the continued success of Etihad Airways as a leading airline for the years to come.”