Emirates eyes deal for smaller Boeing planes as virus hits demand

  • Date: 21-Aug-2020
  • Source: Arabian Business
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:UAE
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Emirates eyes deal for smaller Boeing planes as virus hits demand

Emirates has decided on its preferred mix of new Boeing wide-body planes, with the focus likely to be on smaller aircraft rather than jumbo jets following a slump in demand amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Dubai-based carrier has been pushing to swap more of Boeing's behemoth 777X jets - of which it has ordered 115 - for 787 Dreamliners. The composition of the intake has been finalised, chief operating officer Adel Al Redha said in an interview Thursday, declining to provide details.

Negotiations are ongoing about the timing of the plane deliveries, Al Redha said, with Emirates preferring to take the smaller Dreamliner sooner rather than later as it “offers better seat capacity” at a time when demand for international travel is flagging. Boeing wants to hand over the larger 777X first,