Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, has signed a contract for an additional four Airbus A380 super jumbos.

The airline is the main launch customer for the aircraft and already had the largest number of A380s on order which has now been increased from 43 to 47. Emirates will take delivery of its first A380 in the third quarter of 2008.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “We have repeatedly said we are committed to the A380 and, having now fully settled all past issues, this latest agreement should leave no one in any doubt about our faith in Airbus, the company and the quality of the aircraft we are committing to.

“The Airbus A380 will be instrumental in helping Emirates meet its growing passenger demand and will do it using one of the most efficient and greenest aircraft ever produced.”

“A repeat order for the A380 from a leading airline like Emirates is a huge vote of confidence for Airbus. I’d like to thank Emirates for their faith in Airbus and in our most modern aircraft – the world’s 21st century ‘green giant’,” said Louis Gallois, Co CEO EADS and CEO Airbus.

The order for the four additional A380s has been added to Emirates’ current order book for 105 new aircraft, worth approximately Dhs 111 billion ($30 billion) in list prices. Over the next eight years, the airline will continue to receive delivery of one new aircraft per month on average.

Emirates operates five flights weekly from Malta to Dubai via Larnaca, Cyprus, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As from 2 May, the airline started operating with a larger aircraft: a Boeing 777-200, which can carry a total of 346 passengers and 18 tonnes of cargo capacity.