UAE- Emirates announces ambitious fleet retirement schedule for 2016

DUBAI 7th December 2015 (WAM) -- Emirates has announced its fleet plans for 2016. In total the airline will retire 26 aircraft including twelve A330-300s four A340-300s one A340-500 six 6 Boeing 777-200ERs two Boeing 777-300s and one Boeing 777-300ER. The average age of the Emirates aircraft slated for retirement in 2016 will be 15.7 years well-below the average industry retirement age of 25. In addition 13 more aircraft will be retired in 2017 and another 13 will be retired in 2018.

Balancing its aircraft retirement programme Emirates will take delivery of 36 new aircraft in 2016 including 20 A380s and 16 Boeing 777-300ERs. These two aircraft types are recognised as some of the most efficient and quiet commercial airplanes available emitting on average 12% less carbon dioxide than the aircraft being retired. At the end of 2016 the aircraft retirements and new deliveries will put Emirates' average fleet age at 5.6 years dramatically younger than the global average. A recent analysis shows the average fleet age for the top five airlines in North America is 13.6 years while the average fleet age for the top five airlines in Europe is 10.7 years.

Sir Tim Clark President of Emirates Airline said "Emirates has a global footprint as the world's largest international airline and we have a responsibility to our customers the communities we serve and the planet. We are fully committed to flying a modern fleet that is better for the environment and provides our customers with a superior level of comfort and safety. With the retirement of older aircraft and the introduction of new more fuel efficient aircraft in 2016 Emirates will continue to lead the industry in reducing the age of our fleet while at the same time defining new levels of service that our customers have come to expect."

Currently the total number of aircraft in the Emirates fleet stands at 243. In 2015 the airline received 26 new aircraft including 15 A380s 10 Boeing 777-300ERs and 1 Boeing 777 Freighter. The airline has 263 additional aircraft on order worth over US$120 billion at list prices. Its order book includes 71 Airbus A380s 42 Boeing 777-300ERs 115 Boeing 777-9Xs and 35 Boeing 777-8Xs.