The Duabi-based airline expects to have the 550-seat superjumbo back in service on its route to New York by 12 September, but has conceded that the engineering work required is taking longer than expected.

However, the company says the aircraft will continue to be used in training programmes, ahead of future deliveries of the plane.

A long-haul Boeing 777-300ER aircraft has been deployed on Emirates’ New York route in place of the A380.

Airbus announced in early September that it will be late delivering the airline’s second A380, but said it will stick to the plan of delivering 12 of the aircraft in 2008. Emirates has a further 57 of the planes on order.