Emirates considers buying Airbus A350-2000 jets

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Emirates considers buying Airbus A350-2000 jets

February 5, 2026

Airbus A350-1000 airplane, 2019. Photo: Creative Commons/wikimedia

DUBAI,— Emirates might consider ordering a bigger Airbus jet if the manufacturer moves forward with plans for a new wide-body model, airline president Tim Clark said in comments to Reuters in Dubai.

Clark said the airline would review a proposed A350-2000 very seriously if Airbus decides to develop it. His remarks reflect a broader push from Gulf airlines for aircraft with more seats and longer range.

In November, Airbus confirmed it was studying a larger version of the A350, informally referred to as the A350-2000.

The study began after Boeing agreed to explore a stretched version of the 777X as part of a deal that secured 65 additional orders for the troubled jet program.

A new A350-2000 would likely sit above the A350-1000, which is currently Airbus’s largest passenger aircraft.

Emirates has not bought the A350-1000, saying its Rolls-Royce engines need to prove they can better withstand harsh operating conditions in the Gulf region.

Speaking to Reuters during an interview in Dubai, Clark praised Emirates’ experience with the smaller A350-900, which the airline already flies on long-distance routes.

He said the aircraft has been reliable, performs well in hot climates, and has been popular with travelers thanks to Emirates’ cabin design.

“The A350-900 is a beautiful airplane. Its engines really work well for us. Dispatch reliability is great, and the way we’ve configured it, everybody loves it,” Clark said while attending the World Governments Summit.

Even though Emirates likes the A350-900, it has stayed away from the A350-1000, which competes directly with Boeing’s 777X. Emirates remains the biggest customer for the 777X, despite repeated delays to the program.

All A350 aircraft are powered by engines made by Rolls-Royce. Earlier this week, a senior Rolls-Royce official told Reuters that the company was making steady progress on durability improvements for A350-1000 engines.

The company said those upgrades are already delivering 60 percent more time between major maintenance checks, with additional gains expected starting in 2028.

Emirates has said it wants clearer evidence of longer maintenance intervals before committing to purchase the A350-1000.

Airbus has not publicly said how advanced its internal discussions are regarding a possible A350-2000, and it has given no official launch date or production schedule.

(With files from Reuters)