Emirates mulls more Airbus A380s despite delays

[November 11, 2009]  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Emirates airline, the biggest buyer of the "superjumbo" Airbus A380, said Wednesday it is considering increasing its order for the double-decker plane despite delays on existing orders.

Emirates airline Chairman and Chief Executive Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum told reporters the Dubai-based carrier is looking to boost its order beyond the 58 it has already requested -- the most booked by any airline.

"We are considering that, actually," he said when asked about additional orders ahead of next week's Dubai Air Show. "We're actually looking at the market as very positive for the next few years ... We are always one of the first-movers to take advantage of the market."

For the time being, however, Emirates says it is facing delays with some of the A380s it has already requested. Just five of the "superjumbo" planes have been delivered to Emirates so far.

Sheik Ahmed did not say how many deliveries have been pushed back, though he acknowledged "there is a bit of delay." He said the changes affected deliveries by a matter of months, not years.

The blame for the late deliveries, he said, rested with Toulouse, France-based Airbus, not Emirates.

"Sometimes we are not happy about it because we want the aircraft to be delivered on time," he said.

In a statement attributed to Emirates President Tim Clark, the carrier said it was due to receive three A380s between November and December 2009, but delivery of each has been pushed back by a month.

The airline has said it plans to receive a total of six A380s by the end of March.

[Associated Press; By ADAM SCHRECK]

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