Paris: Emirates is participating in the 55th edition of the International Paris Airshow until 19 June. After an absence of over 15 years, Emirates is showcasing its newest aircraft, the Airbus A350, which features the airline’s next-generation cabin design, latest interiors, and technologies. Visitors have the opportunity to experience Emirates’ upgraded Business Class and Premium Economy cabins, along with its sleek and spacious Economy Class.
According to Emirates News Agency, Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, expressed the airline’s enthusiasm about returning to the Paris Airshow. He emphasized the importance of showcasing the best of air travel on a significant platform in the aerospace exhibition calendar. Clark highlighted Emirates’ commitment to supporting France’s aviation industry, not just through daily operations, but also through ongoing investments across the aerospace supply chain.
Emirates serves Paris with 21 weekly flights, including three daily A380 flights. The airline also offers a daily A380 service to Nice and a daily A350 flight to Lyon. Notably, Emirates is the first and only international airline to operate an A380 to Nice C´te d´Azur Airport. Over the past 30 years, Emirates has played a key role in expanding France’s aviation sector and enhancing trade and tourism flows.
The airline’s A350 and A380 purchases have supported thousands of jobs at Airbus, Safran, Thales, and other parts of the aerospace value chain in France. Since its inception in 1985, Emirates has invested over £114 billion (US$130 billion) to purchase 254 Airbus aircraft, including the A300, A310, A330, A340-300, A340-500, A380, and A350. Emirates is a key customer for French aerospace manufacturers, sourcing Michelin tyres, Safran aircraft components and seating, and Thales avionics systems, among other parts, to support its fleet.
In 2023, Emirates announced a series of contracts with Safran worth over £1.0 billion (US$1.14 billion) combined. This includes a £896 million (US$1.0 billion) deal for the latest generation Safran Seats for Emirates’ new fleet of Airbus A350, Boeing 777X-9, and existing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline has also invested over £322 million (US$367.5 million) in Thales’ AVANT Up system for its new A350 aircraft.
Emirates SkyCargo provides cargo capacity to customers in France with weekly rotations between Dubai World Central (DWC), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), and Lyon Saint-Exupery airports. The UAE is France’s largest export partner in the Middle East. Emirates directly contributes over £189 million (USD $215 million) to the French economy each year through various operational expenditures.
France is also Emirates’ top source market globally for the procurement of wines, with 58% of the red wine consumed in Emirates’ First and Business Class coming from Bordeaux. The Emirates A350 on display features three spacious cabin classes, including 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 generously pitched Economy Class seats.
Visitors at the Paris Airshow can explore the airline’s new and enhanced ‘fly better’ experience, which includes more space and storage with extra high ceilings and wider aisles in all classes. The next generation Business Class cabin boasts a 1-2-1 seat configuration, the latest in-flight entertainment with a cinematic viewing experience, enhanced cabin lighting, faster Wi-Fi, and improved seat ergonomics. By the end of this year, the Emirates A350 is expected to serve 17 destinations, with the airline having welcomed seven A350 aircraft and 58 more units set to join its fleet over the coming years.