Emirates airline has placed an order for two extra Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with a list price of US$279 million (Lm126 million), to be delivered next year. This was confirmed by the Dubai-based international airline's chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The two A330-200s are scheduled for delivery in June and October. They will bring the airline's A330-200 fleet to 29, all powered by Rolls Royce Trent 772 engines.
Emirates already operates 22 A330-200s, with five already on order. Two are scheduled for delivery in August and September this year and three in March, April and May next year.
Sheikh Ahmed said: "These new orders have been placed to service the airline's expansion, with new destinations and more flights to existing destinations planned for 2003, subject to the necessary government approvals."
Emirates announced massive aircraft orders worth US$15 billion, on top of its existing orders, at the Dubai 2001 Air Show last November. The total orders will give Emirates 22 Airbus A380s, 37 Boeing 777s, six A340-500s, eight A340-600s and 29 A330s, with deliveries up to 2010.
Emirates' fleet, one of the world's youngest with an average age of three years, currently numbers 39 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Given the current fleet plus existing orders, it will comprise 102 by the end of the decade.
New Marhaba service
Meanwhile, a new Marhaba Lounge service at check-in for travellers from Dubai International Airport officially opened its doors. Passengers have a choice of three levels of service when they fly from Dubai.
Up to 9,000 people are expected to use it in the first year alone. Designed, in Arabic style, the lounge, with its reception area, cosy seats, Persian carpeted floors, TV, newspapers, magazines and free soft drinks and snacks, is available without charge to customers' families and friends, and can also be used for small private business meetings.
The three service levels, available to passengers in any class of travel, are: Express check-in for AED30. Customers relax in comfort in the lounge and enjoy a cool soft drink while Marhaba staff take care of check-in formalities and weigh their baggage; pre-bookable telephone check-in for AED30. Marhaba staff prepare boarding passes and luggage tags in advance, and protect the customer's choice of seat. They hand them to the customer on arrival at the airport, saving valuable time; and Advance check-in for AED40, including porterage. With this service, baggage and documents can be sent in advance to the airport. At departure time, customers will be whisked to the gate in Marhaba's electric buggies, shaving 20 minutes off normal transfer time. A separate immigration counter will help them beat the crowds, especially at peak departure times between 6 and 8 a.m. and midnight to 2.30 a.m.