Emirates is reconsidering buying 50 to 70 Airbus A350 aircraft, after pulling out of the $16 billion order earlier this month.
The Gulf carrier dealt a blow to Airbus when it cancelled its entire order, citing “on-going discussions with the airline in light of their fleet requirement review”.
Emirates’ president Tim Clark told theFT there would be discussions with Airbus and Boeing at the end of this year or early 2015 about buying the A350 or the Dreamliner.
However, it could turn into a fiercely contested battle between Airbus and Boeing as Clark also confirmed the airline will speak with Boeing about the Dreamliner.
“We will re-engage with Airbus on this aeroplane at the end of this year, the beginning of next year,” Clark told theFT. “We will also engage [with Boeing about the Dreamliner].”
The airline’s decision not to proceed with the original order was the Toulouse-based aircraft maker’s largest ever cancellation.
The order of 50 A350-900 and 20 A350-1000 was first placed by Emirates in 2007 with first delivery slots scheduled from 2019.
British engineering firm Rolls-Royce, which is the sole engine maker for the A350, took a £2.6 billion pound hit from the cancellation.
Emirates.com