Emirates Took A Risk Ordering A380s – Tim Clark

Emirates took a bold and risky move when ordering the world’s largest ever commercial airplane, the airline’s president Tim Clark has said, but the risk was worth taking.

Emirates ordered 11 A380s when Airbus first unveiled the superjumbo in 2007.

“We were bold ordering this double-decker when we did, and in the numbers that we did, but my goodness, it has proved to be a gamble worth taking,” Clark said.

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Since then the Dubai flag bearer has grown its A380 fleet to become the largest in the world, with 37 on its current roster. The carrier is awaiting the delivery of a further 97 superjumbos after it placed an order for 50 at the Dubai Airshow late last year.

Clark, who was speaking exclusively to Gulf Business in his 2014 power letter, also warned of the benefits of competition within the aviation industry being undone by protective moves.

“The resurgence of protectionist rhetoric in aviation policy-making could potentially undo all the benefits that competition brings to consumers and the global aviation industry,” he said.

The Gulf Business January edition including the 2014 Power Letters is now available.