TS-IOR From Tunisia, joined Oct 2001, 3295 posts, RR: 7 Posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 20962 times:
I heard that Tunisia's Syphax Airlines is to acquire (from Airbus) two former Emirates A330 by spring 2013 to fly North America and China. Any information regarding the next A330s Emirates will get rid of ? Are these birds still worthy !
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 1, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 20876 times:
They are most likely frames c/n 348 A6-EAA and c/n 345 A6-EKZ, both of which will be disposed of as they come off lease in Q1 2013. Both aircraft are in a 2-class configuration and are about 12 years old.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16807 posts, RR: 57 Reply 2, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 20812 times:
The A330 does not fit into EK's long-term fleet plan. His routes are all relatively thick routes. Some are short and some are long.
For his smallest aircraft, he would like the A359/A35J. For the mid-size long-range, the 779X (which is slightly more efficient on the longest routes than the A350 as currently envisioned). For the largest, the A388 (and I'm sure he'd buy 150 A359's if he could).
The A330 is not enough airplane and not enough range for EK's future plans. Not even the 787 is enough lift for EK.
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 3, posted (4 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 20615 times:
The will be the 5th and 6th A332s to leave the EK fleet. Two aircraft have gone to Virgin Australia and another two to Sichuan. One more A332 with registration A6-EAI will be removed from the fleet later in 2013, at which time 22 aircraft will remain active.
kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11948 posts, RR: 37 Reply 5, posted (4 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 19240 times:
Quoting cloudyapple (Reply 4): About time! The inside of these planes are literally falling apart.
Oh, come on! They're not that old (oldest about 14yrs) and I'm sure EK looks after them well.
I would expect many of these to be converted to freighters. I'm sure there is plenty of life left in them. The A332 is a fine aircraft;it just happens not to fit into EK's fleet plan going forward.
anfromme From Ireland, joined Feb 2012, 283 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (4 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 19064 times:
Quoting kaitak (Reply 5): Quoting cloudyapple (Reply 4):
About time! The inside of these planes are literally falling apart.
Oh, come on! They're not that old (oldest about 14yrs) and I'm sure EK looks after them well.
No, they're not that old, but having been on A6-EKS (delivered in 1999) and A6-EAS (delivered to EK in 2003) two or three years ago I can testify that Emirates hasn't been looking after the cabin of those planes very well at all.
By the way - the same goes for 777-200ER A6-EMD (delivered in 1996), so it's not limited to a particular type.
As it happens, all of the slightly-crappy looking cabins I've ever seen on Emirates were on flights to/from India.
EK413 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 3895 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (4 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 18537 times:
I hope EK don't make a habit of it either with all the NEW aircraft joining the Emirates fleet B77Ws & A380s... Otherwise I'll need to consider a username change
When is the entire A332 fleet expected to be retired...?
AA777223 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1112 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (4 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 17345 times:
Quoting TS-IOR (Thread starter): I heard that Tunisia's Syphax Airlines is to acquire (from Airbus) two former Emirates A330 by spring 2013 to fly North America and China. Any information regarding the next A330s Emirates will get rid of ? Are these birds still worthy !
I always wondered why EK didn't order A333. onsidering they use widebodies to all mainline destinations, and they consider the A332 too small, I would have thought the A333 would have been perfect for their regional operations, as well as India. Everyone else continues to order them. Am I missing something?
EK413 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 3895 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (4 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 17126 times:
Quoting AA777223 (Reply 10): I always wondered why EK didn't order A333. onsidering they use widebodies to all mainline destinations, and they consider the A332 too small, I would have thought the A333 would have been perfect for their regional operations, as well as India. Everyone else continues to order them. Am I missing something?
I'll take a wild guess "range & payload"...
In response to a decline in A330-300 sales, increased market penetration by the Boeing 767-300ER, and airline requests for increased range and smaller aircraft, Airbus developed the Airbus A330-200...
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2042 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (4 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 16843 times:
Quoting AA777223 (Reply 10): I always wondered why EK didn't order A333. onsidering they use widebodies to all mainline destinations, and they consider the A332 too small, I would have thought the A333 would have been perfect for their regional operations, as well as India. Everyone else continues to order them. Am I missing something?
I do recall EK signing a MOU or LOI to purchase about 30 A333s. It was to be a 1-1 replacement for the A332s but I don't know what that order came to. I know it was never firmed, but what happened?
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
Polot From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 1493 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 16843 times:
Quoting AA777223 (Reply 10): I always wondered why EK didn't order A333. onsidering they use widebodies to all mainline destinations, and they consider the A332 too small, I would have thought the A333 would have been perfect for their regional operations, as well as India. Everyone else continues to order them. Am I missing something?
They did have an MoU for 30 A333s 3 or 4 years ago, but they never firmed the order and the MoU lapsed.
In 2007 Emirates ordered 50 Airbus A350-900s, the initial version, plus 20 of the -1000 version, which is both larger and longer in range.
Since then Emirates has more or less simultaneously warned Airbus not to be late, but also to change the design of the A350-1000 to give it more range. It is the largest buyer and operator of the Airbus A380 ( 90 ordered and 17 in service) and the Boeing 777, currently operating at least 86 of them in various versions, although the net effect of the new 777 order is unclear, as it is part of a program to replace old with new, as well as grow that part of its fleet.
That was well after the MoU/LOI lapsed. They signed the LOI way back in July 2008 along with a LOI for 30 A350XWBs (which it appears they also never firmed). I believe the global financial crisis, which started in Fall 2008, properly was the greatest factor for EK not firming the order than anything else.
UALWN From Andorra, joined Jun 2009, 2319 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (4 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 16034 times:
Quoting EK413 (Reply 11): In response to a decline in A330-300 sales, increased market penetration by the Boeing 767-300ER, and airline requests for increased range and smaller aircraft, Airbus developed the Airbus A330-200...
But since then the A330-300 has gained a lot of range. You can just check how many A333s and B763s have been sold in the last, say, 5 years...
A6-EKZ is now stored in Bordeaux as of November.
A6-EAA is stored at Dubai as of October.
Additionally, A6-EAB and A6-EAC went to Virgin Australia while A6-EAL went to Sichuan Airlines.
I believe all of these aircraft are owned by lessors, hopefully new homes should be found for them soon.
AA777223 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1112 posts, RR: 7 Reply 18, posted (4 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 14964 times:
Quoting UALWN (Reply 16): But since then the A330-300 has gained a lot of range. You can just check how many A333s and B763s have been sold in the last, say, 5 years...
Not to mention, the situations to which I am specifically referring (and every mission served by EK's A332s), would not have any issues with the range, past or present, of the A333.
Flying Belgian From Belgium, joined Jun 2001, 2358 posts, RR: 10 Reply 19, posted (4 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 14683 times:
Quoting cloudyapple (Reply 4): About time! The inside of these planes are literally falling apart.
The airplanes themselves aren't that old, that's right, but in 14-15 years (and correct me if I'm wrong) the economy class has never been refurbished.
And most airlines having frames of 14 years of age completed at LEAST one cabin retrofit.
I'm really puzzled to see the huge product inconsistency between an EK A330 and their A380 for instance.
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 2): The A330 is not enough airplane and not enough range for EK's future plans. Not even the 787 is enough lift for EK.
Actually, the currently sold A333s with their new characteristics would perfectly fit EK's fleet: enough range to cover all Europe, even most of their S-E Asia secondary destinations, lots of cargo storage, excellent economics + versatility... but at the time EK made up their mind the promised 787 and A350 arrived, well at least on paper. So the timings were let's say pretty bad to firm up their MoU.
palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1050 posts, RR: 20 Reply 20, posted (4 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 14472 times:
Quote: Trust me I used to shuttle on these things between Dubai and Muscat a lot. They are really bad.
Quote: The airplanes themselves aren't that old, that's right, but in 14-15 years (and correct me if I'm wrong) the economy class has never been refurbished.
And most airlines having frames of 14 years of age completed at LEAST one cabin retrofit.
Agreed! I flew on A6-EAF last Sunday to Muscat and the inside of the plane had not changed since 2005 when I last flew on an EK A330 - quite worn down and a huge IFE box under the seats making the whole experience very uncomfortable - just as I remembered back in 2005! Thankfully the flight to MCT from DXB is only about 45 minutes.
trex8 From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 3968 posts, RR: 14 Reply 21, posted (4 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 14058 times:
Quoting EK413 (Reply 11): In response to a decline in A330-300 sales, increased market penetration by the Boeing 767-300ER, and airline requests for increased range and smaller aircraft, Airbus developed the Airbus A330-200...
The A332 was developed in parallel with the A333 and A340. It was never an "afterthought" due to poor sales of the A333.
lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10649 posts, RR: 100 Reply 22, posted (4 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 13952 times:
I find it interesting how EK needs to constantly up-gauge. This is a natural side-effect of their hubbing strategy and DXB's constraints. While the new concourse will *slightly* allieviate slot constraints, the reality is the main hub waves have very few openings left to fill. So gauge will be the primary growth path for EK.
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 1): They are most likely frames c/n 348 A6-EAA and c/n 345 A6-EKZ, both of which will be disposed of as they come off lease in Q1 2013. Both aircraft are in a 2-class configuration and are about 12 years old.
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 3): at which time 22 aircraft will remain active.
Thank you for your informative information.
Quoting kaitak (Reply 5): I would expect many of these to be converted to freighters.
The program is just getting started due to the high resale value of A330s. Eventually they will be freighters, but that will take a recovery of the freight market too.
Quoting AA777223 (Reply 10): I always wondered why EK didn't order A333.
Payload at range. At the time, EK had bought these to start not only European routes, but also some Asian destinations. Also recall when EK bought the A332s the range of the A333s was 5200nm (IIRC), not the soon to be produced 6100nm. EK was only promised 6800nm range (again, IIRC) with the A332s!
babybus From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 3512 posts, RR: 6 Reply 23, posted (4 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 10964 times:
It's a shame they might have to leave the fleet as the A330 always looks great wearing any airline livery. In my eyes the most graceful aircraft out there, from all angles.
Ek could surely use them for intra-Gulf routes. High capacity short haul routes. I flew on one recently and they don't half pack 'em in. For a short Gulf route it did the job.
I think the title of this thread should be changed to retiring rather than 'get rid' unless the poster is deliberately trying to be eye-catching or provokative.
[Edited 2012-12-28 10:19:48]
and with that..cabin crew, seats for landing please.
sandyb123 From UK - Scotland, joined Oct 2007, 867 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 6732 times:
Quoting Flying Belgian (Reply 19): I'm really puzzled to see the huge product inconsistency between an EK A330 and their A380 for instance.
I remember when EK ran an advertising campaign in EDI promoting people travel to NCL for their Daily flight to DXB rather than the (much shorter and easier) journey to GLA.
I used to laugh as NCL got the A330 at that time and GLA got a 773ER (sometimes a 3-class with suites) and complimentary limo service to GLA but not NCL. I thought why would anyone bother?
Glad they are getting rid of these a/c. Its the achilles heal of the fleet.
Hopefully the A343 will follow suit or be upgraded. The interim cabin with the newer Y seats but older J seats and no ICE avod IIRC is lacklustre.
25 ncelhr: In order to keep a clean looking interior, upholstery (seats + carpets) have to be renewed around every 6 years. Having flown much on EK recently, I s
26 RussianJet: Shame they want to get rid - the A330 looks great in EK colours.
27 gigneil: Was it...? It launched a number of years later. NS
28 EK413: Your correct... On 11 November 2007, during the Dubai Airshow, Emirates 120 Airbus A350s, with the first delivery set for 2014. A firm $16.1bn order
29 CRJ900: How sought-after are A330-200s nowadays? My impression is that the A330-300 has collected the lions share of orders for the past few years. EK had 29
30 Viscount724: But most passengers fly Y class and the A330's 8-abreast 2-4-2 configuration is much better than EK's 10-abreast 3-4-3 layout on all their 777s. It's
31 huldoch: They don't really! I just spent quite a bit of time on them and are starting to get a bit out of shape....
32 DocLightning: They're quite popular. More range than the A333 and still efficient on shorter routes. HA ordered them and only took delivery in the last couple of y
33 lightsaber: And now DXB is near 'infrastructure bound.' Gauge will be how EK expands primarily during the peak time periods. I see no financial leases for the A3
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