Emirates Purchases Five Airbus A380 Aircraft

Doric Nimrod Air Two Ltd has finalized a deal to sell its remaining five Airbus A380 aircraft to Emirates for approximately $200 million, with the transaction expected to close between October and November 2024 as the leases expire. The aircraft, initially acquired in 2011 and leased to Emirates for 12 years, will add to Emirates' A380 fleet, which is the largest in the world with 116 units. This acquisition follows the earlier purchase of two A380s from Doric Nimrod in 2023. The company plans to liquidate and return capital to shareholders after the sale, with distributions anticipated in the first quarter of 2025. Emirates aims to keep the A380 in operation until at least 2041, despite ongoing delivery delays for new aircraft like the Boeing 777X. The sale highlights the continuing importance of the A380 to Emirates' operations, even as Airbus has ceased production of the superjumbo.