Emirates Airlines continues to play up its interest in the Australian market with claims yesterday that they are looking at a stretch version of the new Airbus A380.
The base model now in development will carry up to 550 passengers in a three-class cabin, but Emirates is already looking beyond that with an eye to the long haul Australian traveller, to a super 750 seater configuration.
Emirates president Tim Clark said yesterday bigger aircraft offered more efficiency and cheaper fares.
“The design lends itself to a stretch straight away,” he said.
“If Airbus said they’re going to launch it, I think Emirates would be queuing up to be one of the first to take it.”
Dubai-based Emirates has ordered 45 A 380’s, compared to Qantas’ 12, with the first passenger flights due in early 2007.
