The Boeing 777X – When will it arrive?
Boeing Commercial Airplanes is having serious problems, the now Crystal City, Virginia-based company, posted losses of $11.83bn (£9.5bn) for 2024 but what was for many years a major money-spinner, in its latest developed form, is still some way from being delivered to customer airlines.
According to Boeing’s fourth quarter 2024 earnings report the first 777X will be delivered in 2026. Lufthansa has 20 on firm order and 14 options, but whether it will take the first delivery remains to the seen. Qatar Airlines also claims an early order, but that was at the time that Akbar Al Baker was the flamboyant leader. No US airline has ordered the 777X. British Airways is committed for 18.
TNU’s Editor-in-Chief Malcolm Ginsberg, who first flew on the plane in late 1995, a United Airlines’ version, takes readers through its history. Nothing too detailed, just a gentle reminder of what it is all about. The Boeing 777 prototype aircraft rolled out in April 1994, and first flew in June of that year. Many of today’s younger pilots, engineers and of course travellers, would not have been born at that time. In terms of what we call ‘wide-bodied aircraft’ the Boeing 747 was at its peak production, the Airbus A300 had been around since 1972, with the developed version, the A330 making its maiden flight in November 1992.
The “Triple Seven” entered service with the launch operator United Airlines in June 1995. By the end of last year (2024) 1,741 had been delivered with the current primary operators Emirates (152), United Airlines (96), Qatar Airways (81), Air France (70) American Airlines (67), and British Airways (59). The 777 can accommodate a ten-abreast seating layout and has a typical three-class capacity of 301 to 368 passengers, with a range of up to 10,000 miles, Singapore to New York non-stop. The aircraft has been available with engines from General Electric GE90, Pratt & Whitney PW4000, or Rolls-Royce Trent 800.
The 777 Freighter (777F) is an all-cargo version of the twinjet, and shares features which include its airframe, engines and fuel capacity. Primary operators of the 777F include FedEx, China Southern Cargo and Emirates Sky Cargo.
The 777X was launched with much fervour in November 2013 with two variants, the 777-8 and the 777-9. The 777-8 provides seating for 395 passengers and has a range of just over 10,000 miles whilst the 777-9 has seating for 426 passengers and a range of over 8,383 miles. It has a single engine, the General Electric GE9X, composite wings with folding wingtips, greater cabin width and seating capacity, and plus technologies from the Boeing 787. The 777-9 first flew on 25 January 2020. Deliveries have been delayed time and time again.In August 2024, routine inspection following a test flight in Hawaii led to Boeing grounding its 777X test fleet. A structural link between the engine and wing was found to be damaged, while cracks were noted in the same component on other development aircraft.
The 777X has a long composite wing to give it a higher lift-to-drag ratio. However, it needs to fit into a standard apron box, and gets over the problem with folding wingtips with "wingtip controls" in the cockpit. The mechanism was demonstrated for Aviation Week magazine at the Boeing Everett Factory in October 2016; the folding movement completed in 20 seconds and then locked in place. Specific alerts and procedures are needed to handle a malfunction.
Unless you are a regular traveller, you will probably not notice the improvements to the passenger accommodation, although typically with British Airways (and Emirates) innovative interiors are being developed for their long-haul fleets. These will be incorporated into the new aircraft. The 777X will feature cabin design details requiring structural changes that were originally introduced on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. These include larger windows, higher ceilings, more humidity and a lowered cabin altitude to 6,000ft. The windows can be offered dimmable says Boeing. It should be much quieter internally too. Boeing has also touted the 10X with 450 passengers and also a very superior business jet version with a colossal range of over 13,000 miles, ideal for an American President. The present pair of Air Force One’s Boeing 747 date from 1987, and are due to be replaced by a pair originally ordered by the former Russian airline Transaero in 2011. This contract was made during Trump’s earlier occupancy of The White House. As things stand the aircraft are unlikely to be delivered until 2029 for upgrade/technical reasons, by which time Tump might again be a former President!
The 777X has been seen at a number of air shows, making its public debut at Singapore 2022, then Farnborough the same year. Dubai and Paris featured in 2023, but not last year’s Farnborough citing reduced commercial activity to focus on safety, quality and meeting customer commitments. Paris this year, 16-22 June, has not been mentioned to date, but it would seem logical for Boeing to put its other worries to one side and make a big effort for the aircraft to be the major feature. It needs to get one over Airbus!
The Boeing 777X has been peddled by its builder as the most efficient twin-aisle aircraft in the world. Improvements in design and technology mean it promises a 10% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, alongside a 10% improvement in operating economics.
It can be a big money spinner for Seattle. Let’s hope under the new Trump regime Boeing gets its act together.
www.boeing.com/commercial/777x
All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 200 words maximum
No one has commented yet, why don't you start the ball rolling?
Travel News Update
20 Lodge Close, Edgware HA8 4RL, United Kingdom
+44 (0)7973 210631
malcolm@ginsberg.co.uk
© 2023 Travel News Update Ltd