DUBAI- UAE flag carrier Emirates Airlines (EK) plans a “serious conversation” with Boeing following another delay in the 777X aircraft delivery.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg announced on Friday that the 777X debut would slip to 2026, marking a six-year delay from the original timeline.
Emirates to Talk with Boeing over 777X
Ortberg cited program development challenges, a pause in flight testing, and ongoing union worker strikes as reasons for the postponement. The delay particularly impacts Emirates, the world’s largest long-haul airline, which relies heavily on Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft for its fleet.
Emirates President Tim Clark expressed skepticism about Boeing’s ability to forecast delivery dates accurately. He highlighted the Type Inspection Authorisation halt on the 777X and the prolonged union strikes as major obstacles.
The 777X is crucial for Emirates’ future wide-body fleet strategy, especially since Airbus has ceased A380 production. Clark revealed that Emirates has made significant and costly amendments to its fleet programs due to Boeing’s “multiple contractual shortfalls.”
777X Delays
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg announces further delays for the 777X program, pushing the first delivery to 2026. The delay stems from ongoing development challenges, a flight test pause, and work stoppages.
In August, Boeing suspended 777X flight tests after discovering cracks in a critical component connecting engines to wings. This issue exacerbates existing challenges in securing FAA certification for the aircraft.
The postponement affects both passenger and freighter versions of the 777X, resulting in a $2.6 billion pretax earnings charge for Boeing. This financial impact underscores the severity of the delay and its consequences for the company’s bottom line.
Boeing’s 777X order book currently stands at 503 aircraft from 13 identified airlines and undisclosed customers. The orders include 43 Boeing 777-8 variants, 55 777-8F freighters, and 405 larger 777-9 models.
Some journalists note that the 777X delays and the current strike at Boeing are not directly related, suggesting multiple factors contribute to the program’s setbacks.
Largest Retrofit Program
Emirates initiates a $3 billion retrofitting program for 191 Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft. The project will install 8,104 premium economy seats, refresh 1,894 first-class suites, upgrade 11,182 business-class seats, and replace 21,814 economy-class seats.
Boeing’s 777X, a 400-seat twin-engine aircraft, faces a six-year delay due to certification issues. Emirates President Tim Clark expects its commercial service debut no earlier than 2026, echoing frustrations shared by other airline executives awaiting deliveries amid strong travel demand.
Aircraft delays have become an industry-wide concern, affecting both Boeing and Airbus. Airlines resort to keeping older aircraft operational longer, often retrofitting them at significant cost.
Etihad Airways (EY) plans to begin retrofitting its older Boeing 777 wide-bodies from 2026, as announced by Etihad Aviation Group CEO Antonoaldo Neves at the Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
