The First Aircraft That Set the Foundation for Emirates Airline’s Success!
The largest airline in the Middle East, which operates to over 160 destinations in more than 80 countries across six continents, making it also one of the world’s largest airlines. The airline not only has a humongous fleet of more than 260 aircraft, mostly Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, it also is one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the world. However, with the immense growth and development of the airline over the years, which would never have been possible without the first aircraft, that allowed the airlines to set a strong foot hold across the region.
The largest airline in the Middle East, which operates to over 160 destinations in more than 80 countries across six continents, making it also one of the world’s largest airlines. The airline not only has a humongous fleet of more than 260 aircraft, mostly Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, it also is one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the world. However, with the immense growth and development of the airline that have achieved over the years, it would have never been possible without the first few aircraft, that allowed the airlines to set a strong foot hold across the region.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), played a vital role in the early years of the airline and on 25 October 1985, Emirates operated its flights from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai, using a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 wet‑leased from Pakistan International Airlines.
According to planespotters.net, this particular Boeing 737–300, with registration AP-BCD, was initially delivered to PIA on June 1985, and leased out to Emirates, which subsequently flew for the next 2 years and later flew back to its origin’s, Pakistan International Airline. With an approximate age of 37.8 years, the aircraft is currently stored and is named Turbat according to airfleets.net.
The Boeing 737–300 was a narrow-body aircraft that could carry up to 148 passengers. It had a range of around 2,500 nautical miles, making it well-suited for short- and medium-haul flights and used the Boeing 737–300 to operate flights to destinations in the Gulf region, such as Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
However, Emirates Airline’s first official aircraft purchase were the two Airbus A310–300s, A6-EKA and A6-EKB, that were ordered in 1985, the same year the airline began operations. The aircraft were purchased directly from Airbus and were delivered to Emirates in 1987.
According to airfleets.net, A6-EKA, flew with Emirates for 10 whole years and later went onto to fly with several airlines prominently in Canada and France, and also Mali and Nigeria. The aicraft was then scrapped at Greenwood in 2007.
Greenwood, which is a location in Mississippi, USA, that is known for aircraft scrapping and recycling. The area is home to a number of companies that specialize in dismantling and disposing of decommissioned aircraft, including commercial airliners, military planes, and private jets. The Greenwood area has become a popular location for aircraft scrapping due to its favorable climate, which allows for year-round outdoor operations, as well as its convenient location near major transportation routes. The area also has a long history of aviation, with a number of former military bases and airfields in the region, providing a steady supply of retired aircraft.
Furthermore, the second Airbus A310–300 with registeration A6-EKB, which was also delivered on the same year, however, unlike A6-EBA, according to planespotters.net, the aircraft intially flew with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and flew with Emirates from 1987–2000, and was later delivered to Iran Air as EP-IBL, where it met its fate. As of 2023, the aircraft is currently withdrawn from use and stored at the airport where it used to mainly operate from, Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport in 2018.
The Airbus A310–300 is a medium-to-long-range, twin-engine wide-body aircraft that can carry up to 279 passengers. It has a range of around 5,200 nautical miles, making it well-suited for Emirates’ expanding network of routes that stretched beyond the Gulf region.
The addition of the A310–300s to Emirates’ fleet was a significant milestone for the airline, as it allowed the airline to offer passengers more comfortable and spacious seating, as well as a wider range of amenities. The A310–300s were equipped with features like in-flight entertainment systems, more comfortable seats, and larger galleys, which helped to set Emirates apart from its competitors.
Emirates later added more Airbus aircraft to its fleet, including the A330, A340, and A380, which have helped the airline become one of the world’s largest and most successful carriers. However, the purchase of the Airbus A310–300 was a critical early step in the airline’s growth, allowing it to expand its route network and establish itself as a leading international airline. Today, Emirates is known for its luxurious amenities and services, as well as its extensive network of global destinations, and is considered one of the world’s leading airlines. However, it was the first aircraft leased by Emirates, the Boeing 737–300, that helped set the foundation for the airline’s success.
