Emirates Airline executive plays down A380 competition

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Delay: Emirates Airline has 55 A380s on order.

Emirates Airline has shrugged off competition with Singapore Airlines over delivery of the delayed Airbus A380.

Despite being the first to place an order for the double-decker aircraft, Emirates claimed there would be no inter-airline jealously following Singapore Airline's delivery of a two year-old test plane earlier in the week. Emirates is expecting delivery of its 55 A380s to start in August 2008.

Speaking exclusively to Arabian Business, Keith Longstaff, Emirates senior vice president, commercial operations, Europe said: "We don't feel too bad actually. We are very disappointed that the delay has been so severe, which has been a very serious setback for us.

But it doesn't always pay to be the first operator of a new aircraft because they have a sort of ‘bedding in' period. We will be the major operator of the aircraft so I think it will be a good learning curve for someone else to have it before us. We will certainly benefit from it.

"In this case I think we are quite fortunate," Longstaff added. "Another advantage of not being the first is that our A380 won't be a test aircraft so they will be brand new and will be built specifically for us."

Singapore Airlines has already taken delivery of the first A380 and has been auctioning seats on eBay for the inaugural flight from Singapore to Sydney next month.

Despite the superjumbo being billed as a luxury aircraft for all passengers, Longstaff said the Emirates fleet of A380s would only change for those in first and business class and not for economy passengers.

"You run an aircraft to make a profit. All of the gismos will be restricted to first and business while economy will be very similar - it will be a seat."

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