Emirates’ Aging Fleets: Africa’s Odd Choices
Picture this: you’re all set for a flight, and someone tells you the plane you’re about to board has seen more takeoffs than a heavily mishandled boomerang. That’s the vibe a Nigerian fashion designer picked up when he flew Emirates. He took to a social platform to express his surprise, and let’s just say, it was worth unpacking his claims.
Traveler Claims Emirates Flies Old Planes to Africa
So, let’s dive into what happened. A Nigerian fashion designer, flying in business class, shared a video he shot aboard an Emirates 777. His caption called out the airline, suggesting something along the lines of:
“Why do we always get the oldest planes for our flights to Africa? Listen to the captain—those planes don’t even get sent anywhere else.”
Okay, fair point about the frustration of sitting in a cabin hotter than a summer in the Sahara, thanks to an APU (that’s an Auxiliary Power Unit—you know, that thing meant to keep the plane comfortable) deciding to take a break. Unfortunately, the post got deleted faster than you could say “boarding pass,” so you’ll just have to trust me here.
While it’s easy to see where he’s coming from, it’s a stretch to paint all of Africa with one brush. Remember, Egypt isn’t South Africa—different vibes, different expectations.
This isn’t the first time airlines have been under the microscope for flying aging aircraft to African destinations. Ghana and Nigeria have even been known to challenge these airlines over it.
Is Emirates Really Sending Its Golden Oldies to Africa?
Our fashion designer might be onto something, but let’s twist things a bit. Those plane issues? That’s just bad luck, like finding your sandwich has gone soggy in your lunchbox. No one in the Emirates office is doling out assignments of planes based on what’s malfunctioning—there’s no Excel spreadsheet for “Send to Lagos” with a checkbox for “broken APU.”
However, it’s true that West and Central Africa see Emirates’ 777s trotting down their runways like old movie stars on a comeback tour. While Emirates mostly relies on 777s and A380s (their genre-busting A350s are just peeking out), airports in Africa often roll out the welcome mat for the trusty 777s. Infrastructure limitations and lower passenger numbers rule the skies there.
Even though the airline is in the process of pimping out those 777s with fresh interiors—think of it as a makeover montage—they’re not pushing the remodeled jets to these routes straight away. Consider it more like a popularity contest—or a strategic chess game, if you will.
Let’s face it, airlines pour their new aeronautical magic into the most competitive routes, the ones like Europe to Australia, where there’s a hive of activity, with other airlines vying for a slice of the pie. The same with flights covering the U.S. There’s so much competition, they need all the fancy bells and whistles to keep passengers smiling until they land.
But take heart, Africa travelers—your shiny new interiors will come. It’s just a waiting game until there’s less scribbling on the strategic whiteboard back at HQ.
And let’s not forget, these older models aren’t Africa’s burden alone. Even flights from New York to Milan and Newark to Athens have seen these old-timers taking charge. You may say it’s the jet-set version of ‘what goes around, comes around’—and it’s beginning to change. Slowly.
Take a Break – Hit the Slopes
In the meantime, need a break from the skies? Consider taking a trip to the Val Seny ski resort for some rock-solid fun on the slopes. No run down planes there!
The Bottom Line
There’s a bit of chatter around about Emirates and its penchant for sending retro-looking jets to Africa, so it’s time to share the scoop. Yes, they’re flying these vintage birds, but not out of spite—it’s a combination of demand and strategic deployment across flights.
Don’t mistake a delayed refit for bias. Just remember, Emirates is pointing their spruced-up planes towards fierce competition first. If a Dubai-engineered plane hiccups just before takeoff, it’s not a crafted conspiracy—just the workings of Lady Luck.