What is Emirates’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner plan following its giant A350 order?
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
As one of the world’s largest airlines, and with an exclusively wide-body fleet, Emirates has a tremendous impact on the success of aircraft programs — at Airbus and Boeing alike.
So, following the carrier’s giant order for 50 Airbus A350-900s on Monday, much of the Dubai Air Show buzz has focused on the fate of Emirates’ 2017 plan to add 40 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners to the fleet — an order worth some $15 billion at the time — with deliveries expected to start in 2022.
Tuesday, I went straight to the source, posing the Dreamliner question directly to Emirates President Sir Tim Clark. Simply put, the carrier is still undecided, but it seems likely that Emirates won’t move forward with the original plan to add Boeing’s longest Dreamliner, the 787-10.
Instead, Clark explained that Emirates’ order will likely change, saying: “We’re kind of moving our thinking towards the [787]-9. The A350-900 is more of a [787-10] in its inventory offering, so we’ll probably go with the [787]-9.”
With a standard two-class configuration, the largest Dreamliner, the 787-10, can accommodate 336 passengers, according to Boeing, with a 7,300-mile range. The seat count puts it right in the middle of Airbus’ suggested 300-350 capacity for the A350-900, which offers a superior 9,320-mile range, enabling nonstop service from Emirates’ Dubai (DXB) hub to the West Coast of the United States — which couldn’t be reached by the 787-10.
The 787-9, meanwhile, fits 296 in a standard two-cabin arrangement, with an 8,665-mile range. While the longer (but shorter-range) -10 can handle most of Emirates’ routes, the carrier seems to be after an aircraft with a bit less capacity, since it now has so many A350-900s on the way — it probably doesn’t hurt that the 787-9 is far more versatile, too.
Ultimately, while the 787-10 is likely out, the good news for Boeing is that Emirates seems to have a need for some Dreamliner variant — for the time being, at least.
Featured photo of Boeing’s special “Dreams Take Flight” 787-9 at the Dubai Air Show by Zach Honig/The Points Guy.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/10/2021.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.