Emirates has begun discussions with Airbus on replacing the 20 A340-600 aircraft ordered in 2003 with more A380s or A350s. The A340-600s had been ordered as part of its $19.1 billion fleet acquisition programme.

“Emirates and Airbus are in negotiations to replace the A340-600 with additional A380s and a number of the new A350s,” Habib Fakih, president of Airbus Middle East, told Gulf News.

The 20 A340-600s are valued at more than $5 billion at list prices.

Confirming this, an Emirates spokesperson told Gulf News, “Emirates confirms that it is in discussions with Airbus for future aircraft requirements,” without giving further details.

Fakih, however, said Emirates did not cancel the A340-600 deal with Airbus. “But the airline will replace its order with other aircraft, mostly the A380 and A350,” he said. “The new deal will be nearly the same value as the A340-600 order.”