The introduction of the Airbus A350 into Emirates’ fleet has been hotly anticipated for months, but those keen to fly on the Dubai-based airline’s newest aircraft type will need to wait a little longer. The airline has revealed that the delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 (registered A6-EXA) has been delayed for the fourth time. Now, the plane will not be with the carrier until January 2025.
The introduction of the A350 has long been beset with delays. The inaugural A350 flight was originally scheduled to operate from Dubai to Bahrain on September 15, 2024. This inaugural flight was subsequently delayed due to ongoing delivery delays from Airbus, which saw it being allocated to a Dubai-Edinburgh-Dubai rotation on November 4, 2024.
It was then delayed yet further, this time set to operate on the same route on 2nd December 2024, which is the UAE’s National Day. Then, just days ago, a further delay was announced, with the inaugural flight being reallocated to the Dubai-Edinburgh route on December 16, 2024.
It would now appear, according to information posted by Aeroroutes via X, that the much-heralded but much-delayed first flight will not take place until 2025. The A350’s entry into service is now scheduled to be the Dubai to Edinburgh flight on January 15, 2025. The service will be operated by Boeing 777-300ERs until the A350s arrive on the route.
The carrier also plans to operate the new widebody on services to Ahmedabad, Bahrain, Bologna, Colombo, Kuwait City, Lyon, and Mumbai. Many of these services are currently planned to start at the beginning of February but as with the first flight, are subject to further alteration should subsequent aircraft deliveries be delayed.
According to Aeroroutes, the introduction of the A350 onto the other routes looks like this:
Dubai to Ahmedabad: February 1, 2025 (delayed from January 16, 2025)
Dubai to Bahrain: February 1, 2025
Dubai to Bologna: March 15, 2025
Dubai to Colombo: March 1, 2025
Dubai to Edinburgh: January 15, 2025 (delayed from December 16, 2024)
Dubai to Kuwait City: February 1, 2025
Dubai to Lyon: March 1, 2025
Dubai to Mumbai: February 1, 2025 (delayed from January 16, 2025).
Emirates has 65 A350-900s on order from Airbus and expected its first plane to be delivered in September 2024. However, supply chain delays at Airbus have led to this timetable slipping repeatedly throughout 2024. Nevertheless, the carrier still hopes to have taken delivery of 10 A350s by the end of March 2025. Emirates will operate the aircraft in a three-class configuration, featuring business class, premium economy, and economy cabins.
The inaugural flight of A6-EXA, the first such aircraft scheduled to be delivered to Emirates, took place from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on September 25, 2024, as reported by Aerotime here.