See Emirates’ first-ever Airbus A350, which will launch in January as the airline waits on delayed Boeing jets

Emirates president Tim Clark bashed Boeing during a ceremony for Emirates’ first Airbus A350 delivery.

Emirates received a new jet type for the first time since 2008 with the arrival of its highly anticipated Airbus A350-900, but ill feelings about the plane’s American rival were not absent from the milestone day.

Emirates revealed the 312-seat plane on November 27 at a delivery ceremony in Dubai. It features refreshed business and coach cabins including the airlines’ popular premium economy.

The jet will complement the airline’s other long-haul planes, like the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A380 double-decker, and should help Emirates further expand its global presence with new routes.

Five executives from Emirates, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce stand in front of the first Emirates A350.

At the ceremony, Emirates president Tim Clark once again criticized Boeing for delays to the 777X. He said 85 of Boeing’s new jet should be in the Emirates fleet by now.

“We are expansionists, as you know,” he told the media, Reuters reported. “And we’ve had our wings clipped.”

Boeing’s new 777X widebody was expected to fly with Emirates years ago but is now not expected until at least 2026 amid ongoing production and design problems, Boeing’s 737 Max quality control issues, and a now-ended seven-week labor strike.

Emirates has 205 of Boeing’s new aircraft on order, holding 40% of the world’s 503 total 777X orders. It’s also the largest customer of the classic Boeing 777.

The Boeing 777X is expected to offer 10% better fuel efficiency than its predecessors, thanks, in part, to its revolutionary folding wingtips.

“I fail to see how Boeing can make any meaningful forecasts of delivery dates,” he told -17 in October. “We will be having a serious conversation with them over the next couple of months.”

Emirates’ A350 was also delayed on time

Emirates expected to receive its first A350 in August after being delayed from 2023 and launch nine routes by the end of 2024. Those routes will now begin next year.

“We’re a frustrated entity because we need airplanes, and we need them now,” he said in November, according to Bloomberg.

The plane’s inaugural flight was pushed four times from September and is now scheduled from Dubai to Edinburgh, Scotland, on January 3.

Emirates First A350 Routes

These are the intially planned A350 routes, which will be regional and long-haul.

In addition to its first set of A350s, Emirates expects to receive a longer-ranged variant next summer. But instead of being the modified ultra-long-range A350-900ULR flown by Singapore Airlines, FlightGlobal reported it will sport fewer seats to travel up to 16 hours.

What to expect onboard Emirates’ A350-900

Emirates will have two A350 variants to serve short, medium, and long-haul routes. 

Emirates A350-900 will sport 312 seats across three cabins: 32 in business, 21 in premium economy, and 259 in regular coach.

The longer-ranged variant will have 298 passenger seats instead of 312 across the same three cabins.

Business class will look familiar to those who have flown on Emirates A380 or refurbished 777s. 

Business class resembles the seats on Emirates’ Airbus A380 superjumbos and its newly refurbished 777, complete with a minibar and “improved” storage. The 1×2×1 configuration means every passenger will have direct aisle access.

The high-dollar cabin won’t have the on-board bar or fancy showers present on Emirates mammoth A380s.

The A350 business cabin also won’t have the flyer-favorite doors that other airlines have been actively adding to their long-haul planes, though Emirates said the seats are still “very private.”

The premium economy seats on Emirates new A350 sit between business and coach. 

Emirates maintained its premium economy cabin for the A350 after installing the business-economy hybrid cabin on many of its A380 and 777s. Each seat in the 2×3×2 cabin includes a deep recline, leg and footrests, and 13.3-inch televisions.

The economy cabin has been redesigned with a new six-way adjustable headrest to increase passenger comfort.

It has a 3×3×3 layout and will sport electric window blinds, which are also present in business and premium economy.

Most Emirates passengers will be seated in economy. 

Otherwise, flyers can expect the regular coach Emirates experience. This includes a wood-like tray table, a seatback pouch with extra pockets, generous legroom of up to 32 inches, hot meals, power ports, and an inflight screen.