Emirates is best known as the mega-carrier based in Dubai and the largest operator of the Airbus A380. However, the airline also operates two more aircraft types and has orders for several more. Here’s a look at Emirates’ fleet in 2021 and its future plans.
The basics
Emirates is well-known for its simple and efficient dual-aircraft strategy. The hub airline almost exclusively operates the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 family, helping it keep maintenance costs low and carry as many passengers as possible on its busy network of destinations. Here’s a quick glance at Emirates’ fleet, which features 264 planes in total:
- 119 Airbus A380-800s
- 144 Boeing 777s
- One VIP Airbus A319
However, each fleet has its own specific variants and configurations, so read on for a detailed view of the airline’s jets!
The one
The flagship fleet, and the one most popularly referenced, is the A380-800. Emirates is by far the largest operator of the superjumbo, flying a whopping 119 examples and making up over 45% of the total fleet. However, not all A380s are built in the same configuration, with Emirates constantly innovating its cabins to suit routes and shifting trends. Here’s a breakdown of the A380 fleet:
- 3 four-class A380s, featuring 14 seats in first, 76 in business, 56 in premium economy, and 338 in economy
- 15 two-class A380s, featuring 58 seats in business and 557 in economy
- 111 three-class A380s, featuring 14 seats in first, 76 in business, and 426 in economy.
The premium economy A380s are the three newest ones in the fleet, joining between December 2020 and June 2021. While only six jets will come fitted with the new cabin, dozens of others will receive a cabin upgrade to add premium economy.
While the A380’s life might be coming to an end at several airlines, Emirates is not giving up yet, or anytime soon. CEO Sir Tim Clark has repeatedly said that the jets will fly into the 2030s, giving them over a decade of life before disappearing. Moreover, expect to see more innovations coming to the planes in the near future too.
Workhorse
While the A380 captures most of the glory, Emirates has 144 Boeing 777s that are the workhorses of the fleet. This includes a mix of dedicated freighters, operating for SkyCargo, and passenger jets. While 75% of the A380s remain grounded even today, all of Emirates’ 777s are flying missions.
The fleet consists of three variants: the 777-300ER, 777-200LR, and the 777F. There are 144 of these Boeing widebodies operating today, once again making Emirates the larger operator. The fleet is broken down into:
- 10 B777-200LRs featuring 38 seats in business and 264 in economy
- 10 B777 freighters
- 17 B777-300ERs, featuring 42 seats in business and 386 in economy
- Nine B777-300ERs, featuring six seats in the ‘Gamechanger’ first class, 42 in business, and 306 in economy
- 99 B777-300ERs, featuring eight seats in first class, 42 in business, and 310 in economy
Nowadays, nearly all of Emirates’ 120 destinations are served by the 777, with only 30-40 destinations seeing the superjumbo. This makes the planes crucial to passenger and cargo operations, ensuring the airline has been able to survive this pandemic without dire finances.
The 777-300ER fleet only averages an age of 8.5 years, but the oldest plane is over 15 years old, while the youngest is only three years. Meanwhile, the 777Fs average an age of eight years, and the 777-200LRs are the oldest in the fleet at 13.3 years on average. However, Emirates has robust orders to support its fleet retirement and development.
The special one
While most consider Emirates to be a widebody-only airline, the carrier does have one narrowbody too. This is a 10-year-old A319 ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jet), a VIP aircraft meant to fly some of the world’s elite passengers.
A6-CJE is a notably discreet jet, painted in all-white and featuring no Emirates livery. The plane is configured in a luxurious layout with a bedroom, 10 first class suites, and living areas for passengers. Overall, it’s definitely the most luxurious Emirates jet but is even more out of reach than the airline’s first class!
The usage of the aircraft varies by demand. Data from RadarBox.com shows that the aircraft has been busy in recent months, flying almost daily since mid-May. However, prior to that, the aircraft sat dormant for months on end, likely due to a lack of bookings. In recent months, the plane has been flying mostly to India (allowing some passengers to circumvent the UAE’s travel ban), with occasional visits to the Maldives and Saudia Arabia.
Despite being operated by Emirates Executive, a subsidiary, it still uses EK flight numbers and registration, thereby adding it to the fleet.
Big plans
Emirates is an airline that emphasizes planning for its fleet, and it already has tens of billions of dollars in planes on order. The biggest addition to the fleet will be the Boeing 777X, which will eventually take over the 777 family and the A380. The airline has placed an order for 115 777Xs, which will likely see delivery in early 2024, although the carrier is not too sure.
The 777X order is already down from the original 150 in 2013, but that doesn’t mean Boeing has lost too much business. In 2019, Emirates shocked many by ordering the 787-9, diversifying its fleet to include the smaller widebody. This came on the heels of an announcement for 50 A350-900s, another ultra-efficient widebody.
The coming years will see Emirates become a far more diverse airline and move away from a strict two-type aircraft fleet. Instead, the airline is following the path of many major hub airlines without domestic markets and embracing smaller and more efficient aircraft. As Emirates evolves its operations, this behemoth of an airline isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
What do you think about Emirates’ fleet? Have you ever traveled on their 777 or A380? Let us know in the comments!
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