Conflicting accounts surface on Emirates 777 order

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Dubai’s Emirates Airlines is at the center of contradictory reports over its plan to order 12 additional Boeing Co. 777 jets.

After Airbus announced its third delay on its A380 program last fall, Emirates placed orders with Boeing for 777s to tide the carrier over until its super jumbo jets are ready.

Emirates officials have been vocal about their expectation of financial compensation from Airbus for the A380 delays. Airline president Tim Clark went as far as saying that Airbus would have to take a “massive write-off” to avoid cancellations.

A recent media account suggested Emirates plans to pick up another 12 Boeing planes while it waits for the Airbus deliveries. Maurice Flanagan, Emirates vice-chairman, was quoted describing the 777 order as “imminent” due to the two-year delay on the A380.

However, a Dubai-based news source said the airline denies the initial report.