Emirates orders four more Airbus A-380 Super Jumbos

Mumbai, May 7 (UNI) Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has signed a contract for an additional four Airbus A380 Super jumbos.

The airline is the main launch customer for the aircraft and already had the largest number of A380s on order which has now been increased from 43 to 47, a statement said here today.

Emirates will take delivery of its first A380 in the third quarter of 2008.

''We have repeatedly said we are committed to the A-380 Super and, having now fully settled all past issues, this latest agreement should leave no one in any doubt about our faith in Airbus, the company and the quality of the aircraft we are committing to,'' Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman&Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said in a statement.

He said ''We feel that the Airbus A-380 Super will be instrumental in helping the Emirates meet its growing passenger demand and will do it, using one of the most efficient and greenest aircraft ever produced.'' The order for the four additional A380s has been added to Emirates' current order book for 105 new aircraft, worth approximately 30 billion dollars in list prices. Over the next eight years, the airline will continue to receive delivery of one new aircraft per month on average.

The Emirates Group recently reported its 19th consecutive year of profit with a new record performance backed by continued double-digit growth.

Group net profits increased 23.5 per cent to a new high of 942 million dollars for the financial year, ended March 31 this year.

Emirates Airlines' profits of 844 million dollars also surpassed the previous year's record profits of 674 million dollars, the statement added.

UNI