Boeing’s 777X will take off next year as the world’s largest twin-engine passenger plane and travellers flying to and from the Middle East will be among the first to experience the highly anticipated aircraft.
Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad have placed a total of 324 orders for the jumbo jetliner, 205 of which came from Emirates alone.
While placing part of the order at Dubai Airshow last year, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said the carrier’s model is to “operate modern and efficient wide-body aircraft capable of carrying large numbers of travellers”.
Emirates will no doubt achieve this goal with the forthcoming 205 Boeing 777X and its existing fleet of 119 Airbus A380s. Although the 777X will fly as the largest twin-engine passenger plane, the Airbus A380 will maintain its title as the largest passenger airliner as the four-engine aircraft can carry around 80 passengers more than the Boeing.
“By the early 2030s, we expect the Emirates fleet to be around 350-strong, connecting Dubai to even more cities around the world,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed.
While Dubai’s flag carrier has the largest order, Qatar Airways Group’s former CEO, Akbar Al Baker, revealed last year that the Doha-based airline, which has an order of 94 777Xs, will be the first recipient of the plane.
“We will be the first recipient,” Mr Al Baker is quoted by Simple Flying. “We are the first launch customer with Emirates in the good old days… Boeing has already announced that the first delivery is 2025.”
Meanwhile Etihad is the fifth largest customer of the Boeing 777X with 25 planes on order, slightly less than Lufthansa at 27 and Singapore Airlines with 31.
In addition to being the largest twin-engine plane, the 777X will also be the most efficient aircraft in the world thanks to new advances in aerodynamics and engines. The plane is expected to use 10% less fuel and in turn, reduce operating costs by 10% compared to other aircraft such as the A380.
Boeing’s 777X will also be the first commercial plane to have foldable wing ends that allow for more efficient flight operations and access to different sized airports. Other highlights of the plane include use of GE9X engines, the largest and more powerful aircraft engines, quieter engine technology, LED lighting system onboard to offer airlines access to unlimited colour combinations, and enlarged windows.
New Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg recently shared that he would be based in the planemaker’s birthplace city of Seattle to be closer to the factory floor. He plans “to get closer to the production lines and development programs across the company”, reassuring clients the company’s commitment to safety and quality control.
