Emirates is reportedly in advanced discussions with Airbus for an order for at least 30 Airbus A350-1000s. The order could be announced as soon as the Dubai Airshow 2025, which starts next week. If true, this would represent a remarkable turnaround for the Dubai-based carrier, which has been critical of the -1000 in the past.
It would also be a massive slap in the face for Boeing, and could lead to the end of the Boeing 777-8 program before it even enters production. Here’s why… Boeing currently only has 43 orders for the smaller -8, and 35 of those are from Emirates (Etihad holds the other eight). If Emirates does place a large A350-1000 order, it is likely because it no longer wants (or wants to wait for) the similarly-sized 777-8. You can’t really blame Emirates — the first 777X deliveries have recently been pushed back another year to 2027, and that’s for the larger -9. So it’s quite possible that the first -8s would only start rolling off the line early in the next decade.
So Emirates could either cancel its -8 order, or more likely, convert it into -9 orders. And Boeing, left with only eight orders from one customer for the 777-8, would likely cancel the program. What do you think — does my logic hold water? Assuming Emirates does order the A350-1000, is the Boeing 777-8 dead?
Credit: Boeing
