Emirates Cancels A350 Order

Emirates Airline has cancelled its order of 70 A350 XWBs, Airbus confirmed on Wednesday. The Dubai-based carrier originally placed the order for 50 A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s in 2007. It had planned to take first delivery in 2019.

The cancellation cuts the volume of Airbus’s firm order backlog for the A350 to 742, roughly a half a year before scheduled entry into service.

“Airbus and Emirates Airline benefit from a long-standing relationship and the airline recently reiterated its confidence in Airbus products particularly by praising the A380 and the benefits the aircraft brings to their operations,” said Airbus in a statement released Wednesday. Airbus and Emirates remain in discussions about the possibility of a new engine choice for the A380. The airline placed an order for 50 more of the double-decker transports at the last Dubai Air Show.

“The A350 flight-test campaign is progressing well and is on track for type certification in the coming months,” added Airbus. “Interest in the game-changing A350 has always been very high with customers. Airbus expects the A350 order book to continue growing in 2014.”