"I Think It'll Do The Job"

It's good enough for us. That's what Emirates CEO Tim Clark told attendees at the 2007 Paris Air Show Monday, when asked whether the airline was content with the direction Airbus was heading with its upcoming A350 XWB. 

"We know as much as we need to know about the plane (the A350) to contribute to the decision process," Clark told reporters in Le Bourget, according to Reuters. "From what we have been given on performance and economics, irrespective of how it is produced, it looks like a good machine. I think it'll do the job."

That endorsement doesn't necessarily mean the Dubai-based carrier will select the Airbus plane, however. Clark said Emirates would decide in October whether to award a $20 billion widebody order to the A350 XWB, or Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

One thing is certain, though: the order will NOT be split between the manufacturers, Clark stressed, as Emirates has done in the past to appease both planemakers.

Clark made his comments Monday, after announcing Emirates had ordered eight more A380s. As ANN reported, that brings the airline's total order for the superjumbo airliner to 55 planes.

The Emirates president downplayed recent criticism from International Leasing and Finance Corporation CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy, regarding Airbus' decision to stick with a mix of composite-and-aluminum construction for the A350's fuselage. Hazy has pressured Airbus to switch to composite-barrel construction, similar to the 787, to address corrosion issues.

While Clark did say he feels Boeing's decision is more revolutionary, he also said Emirates wouldn't keep the planes around long enough for any possible issues to matter much.

"It doesn't make much difference to me," he said. "We'll look at the aircraft for the longevity we need, which is 15 years maximum."

Clark added that, despite Boeing's five-year head start over Airbus in bringing its new widebody airliner to market, innovations by the European planemaker have made the A350 XWB more competitive.

"The gap between the two twins has narrowed in the last six months," Clark said.

While the 100+ orders Airbus announced Monday certainly put a smile on several faces at the European planemaker, that statement alone -- by one of its most influential customers -- just may be the best news Airbus received Monday.

FMI: www.airbus.com