NEWTOWN, Conn. - Emirates Airlines president Tim Clark has said the carrier would purchase additional aircraft if Airbus would re-power the A380 with more efficient engines. Emirates already has orders for 140 of the type with 50 having been delivered already, but could take another 60 or 70 over the existing 140, according to Clark.
Airbus has had a tough time making a business case for the enhancement though, which is understandable considering the small size of the fleet. Clark says Rolls-Royce, who was recently selected to power the A330neo, is interested in a Trent variant for the proposed A380neo. The assumption is such an engine may be based on the Trent XWB planned for the A350XWB.