By Youssef Yahya 
On November 25, Emirates marked a significant milestone by receiving its first Airbus A350-900, registered as A6-EXA, from Toulouse. Departing at 17:00, the aircraft embarked on a notable journey, arriving in Dubai 7 hours and 17 minutes later at 03:17 local time the next day. This delivery is a key moment for the airline, as it expands its fleet with a new aircraft type for the first time since 2008, when the iconic Airbus A380 joined the airline’s ranks. Interestingly, the A380 from that era has since been retired.
Additionally, this delivery stands out as Emirates’ only new aircraft acquisition in nearly three years, following the arrival of two A380s in December 2021. Notably, the A350-900 is the first Airbus twinjet to enter the Emirates fleet since the retirement of the Airbus A330-200 in 2016.
The A350 Fleet: A Comprehensive Overview
Emirates is set to receive a total of 65 Airbus A350-900s by 2028. While the initial schedule aimed for the first 10 deliveries by March 2025, recent delays have made this timeline uncertain.
Seat Configuration
The A350-900 features 312 seats across three classes:
32 Business Class seats: The smallest business cabin in Emirates’ current fleet.
21 Premium Economy seats: The smallest premium economy cabin in the airline’s lineup.
259 Economy Class seats: The second-smallest economy cabin, surpassed only by one configuration of the Boeing 777-300ER.
Premium seating (Business Class and higher) constitutes 10.2% of total capacity, a higher proportion than Emirates’ two-class A380 configuration, where premium seating makes up just 9.4%. Interestingly, no First Class will be offered on the A350-900, aligning with a similar configuration on certain A380s, 777-300ERs, and all 777-200LRs in the Emirates fleet. The airline has not yet disclosed details about the cabin products for this aircraft, but a high-profile announcement is expected in the coming weeks.
The A350’s Operational Deployment
As of November 26, nine initial routes have been designated for the A350-900, replacing either the Boeing 777-200LR or 777-300ER. These routes primarily serve markets with lower premium traffic and demand. The table below summarizes these routes, including key start dates and operational details:
| Start Date | Destination | Replaces | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Edinburgh | 777-200LR/777-300ER | Daily flights exclusively operated by the A350. First-class seats are unavailable. |
| February 1 | Ahmedabad | 777-200LR | Daily service via EK538 and EK539. |
| February 1 | Bahrain | 777-300ER | Double daily flights on EK837/838 and EK839/840. First-class seating removed. |
| February 1 | Kuwait | 777-300ER | Daily flights via EK853/854. First-class unavailable. |
| February 1 | Mumbai | 777-200LR | Operated daily on EK502/503. |
| March 1 | Colombo | 777-300ER | Daily flights via EK654/655. First-class removed. |
| March 1 | Lyon | 777-300ER | Exclusively operated by the A350, replacing first-class service. |
| March 1 | Muscat | 777-300ER | Daily operations on EK866/867 with first-class seating discontinued. |
| March 15 | Bologna | 777-300ER | Daily service exclusively operated by the A350, eliminating first-class seating. |
Anticipated Daily Departures
From March 15, Emirates expects 10 daily departures using the A350-900:
- 01:25 – Kuwait
- 02:15 – Muscat
- 08:20 – Bahrain
- 08:35 – Lyon
- 08:55 – Bologna
- 10:05 – Colombo
- 13:15 – Mumbai
- 14:50 – Edinburgh
- 16:00 – Bahrain
- 22:50 – Ahmedabad
The extensive deployment of the A350-900 on short-haul and medium-haul routes suggests that Emirates will not require the initially planned 10 aircraft by the end of March 2025. This indicates flexibility in adjusting delivery schedules as operational needs evolve. Furthermore, Emirates is expected to expand its A350 network to include long-haul routes, with speculations about Atlanta being added to the carrier’s roster in 2025. However, it remains uncertain whether Atlanta will be the first North American city to welcome the A350.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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Bassem Youssef