Airlines
A Dozen Grounded Emirates Airliners Returned to Service
Two A380s out of 14 jets remain parked at Al Maktoum International Airport
An Emirates A380 (foreground) taxies at a busy Dubai International Airport. (Photo: Emirates)
An Emirates A380 (foreground) taxies at a busy Dubai International Airport. (Photo: Emirates)

Only two Emirates Airbus A380s remained parked on the runway apron at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) as of September 10, suggesting the airline has placed back into service 12 of the aircraft standing idle at the location in July due to what officials blamed on a summer traffic slowdown. However, the airplanes’ return to operations appears also to signal an improvement in pilot staffing after an apparent shortfall earlier this year. Emirates president Tim Clark addressed the reports of a pilot shortage in May. “[We’re] a tad short of pilots but should be all right in September or October,” he said at the time.


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