Fuel-efficient Boeing pursues Emirates

Boeing is talking to Emirates, the world’s biggest operator of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, about a potential purchase of the 747-8, as the airline seeks more fuel-efficient carriage of large passenger numbers.

The need for better fuel burn by Emirates on its largest jets has opened a window of opportunity for Boeing, which has begun discussions about the 747-8, said John Wojick, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Boeing.

Emirates has bought more than a quarter of all A380s produced, with plans to receive its 50th A380 next month. The airline said last week it wanted Airbus to put newer engines on its A380 to make the double-decker more efficient.

Winning Emirates as a customer would be a boost for the Boeing program, which has struggled to attract orders.

“The new engines they’re pressing Airbus to put on their plane, we’ve already got four of them,” Wojick said in an interview in Doha, Qatar. “We think we have a good solution.”

Emirates’ possible interest come as Boeing sees renewed interest in the 747-8, which at this point is operating only by Deutsche Lufthansa. Talks are at an early stage, and Wojick didn’t say how many aircraft Emirates may want to buy.

“We’re talking to anybody who has the size and capacity requirement, and obviously Tim is someone who fits into that category”, said Wojick, referring to Tim Clark, the Emirates president.

“We’d love to be able to get the airplane into Emirates.”

Even with 90 superjumbos still to be delivered, Emirates would be prepared to buy additional planes should Airbus commit to adding new engines, Emirates chief commercial officer Thierry Antinori said in a May 20 interview.