Emirates fleet overhaul to increase net belly space

An ambitious plan by Emirates to overhaul its fleet will result in more net belly space for cargo on passenger flights in 2016. The Middle Eastern carrier plans to retire 26 aircraft next year – 13 in 2017 and 13 in 2018 – while it adds 36 newer, more fuel-efficient planes to its fleet.The aircraft that will be retired in 2016 include 12 A330-300s, four A340-300s, one A340-500, six 777-200ERs, two 777-300s and one 777-300ER.

The newer aircraft to be added include twenty A380s, which are hardly known for their belly space. However, Emirates will also add sixteen 777-300ERs, each of which has a belly cargo capacity of about 23 tonnes.  Once Emirates retires the older aircraft and adds the news ones, the average fleet age will be 5.6 years, compared to the 13.6 years for the average age at the top five North American airlines, and 10.7 years for the average fleet of the top five carriers in Europe. Emirates said the newer aircraft are the most efficient airplanes available, emitting, on average, 12 percent less carbon dioxide than the aircraft that are being retired.