The Boeing 777/9 (if and when it arrives) will start a real revolution and improve life on board for so many passengers
According to Boeing's plans, the 777/9, the trade name of the 777x, is expected to complete the certification cycle by the end [...]
According to Boeing's plans, the 777/9, the trade name of the 777x, is expected to Complete the certification cycle by the end of 2025 and the many aircraft already idle on the manufacturer's aprons should be completed, painted and outfitted before being delivered to waiting carriers. Things, however, took, yet another, turn in the wrong direction. just when they seemed to be heading toward the finish line. As of today, it is impossible to predict when testing will begin again. After the problem highlighted in recent days.
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Given the latest vicissitudes the timing desired by the American manufacturer. are not certain, neither for the plane nor for the engines that will move it, we just have to wait and hope to see it fly "As Soon As Possible."
A slew of new cabins will debut aboard the 777/9
Introduced back in 2013 as the heir to the triple 7, has been perpetually delayed ever since. The Max crisis, the 787 crisis, the covid and everything else have made this debut a never-ending story about which books have already been written, rivers of ink and bytes wasted, and above all ruined the plans of all the carriers that ordered this plane.
Who ordered the 777-9
At the recent Farnborough Air Show we saw a few orders come in to Boeing for the new flagship, but nothing earth-shattering, partly because the airlines have grown tired of announcements and want to see action.
The first company To put down on paper the willingness to buy this plane. Was Lufthansa, it was back on September 18, 2013, when it sealed the order for 20 aircraft. To date Emirates is the one that has ordered the most machines about 200, while Qatar which just added 20 new orders is at 100 including the Cargo variant. Here is the complete list:
- Air India (10 777/9)
- All Nippon Airways (22 /9)
- IAG (18 /9)
- Cathay Pacific (21 /9)
- Emirates (149 /9, 35/8)
- Etihad (17 /9, 8/8)
- Ethiopian (8 /9)
- Korean Air (20 /9)
- Lufthansa (20 /9)
- Qatar (70 /9)
- Singapore (31 /9)
All new First Class that (perhaps) we will see debuting on the 777/9
While life in economy and premium economy will change little, although Boeing is sponsoring much of the new cabin as the space available to passengers, much more is set to change for those traveling seated in the front of the plane.
Some carriers have already submitted mockups of the new cabins that will debut on this plane, many are instead creating a great deal of hype by showing only a few details. In some cases the wait has worn the product down, in others such as Lufthansa's Allegris, the company decided not to wait any longer and adapted cabins for A350 and 787 as well.
Not many companies have ordered this model: Emirates is the one that placed the largest order, but it will not be the first to receive the new flagship.
The war to be the "launch customer" is a game being played between Singarepore, Qatar, and Cathay Pacific.
The new Qatar, the one orphaned by its deus ex Machina Al Baker, has turned around and said that the QSuite is almost an F, but that the most exclusive cabin is destined to have long life aboard the planes of the world's best airline.
Singapore is pawing with the urge to show the world the new Suites, and if what is being done aboard the A380s cannot be imitated, it will certainly be a leap forward from what is offered on the 777/300s today.
Ditto Cathay, which stands for fly the new Aria Suitess of business class awaits the giant with folding wings to return to the top.
Instead, it is likely that the new Fs from Lufthansa and Swiss will arrive before the 777/9, indeed imperative since today the German company's new A350s travel with fake seats Instead of where the new first class will be tomorrow.
Many new business classes also await the 777/9
Qatar has unveiled the new generation of QSuites, but he also said that they will be on board the /9, so not before the second half of 2026 (if all goes well).
Same for Singapore which is waiting for precisely the arrival of this model of aircraft to renew its proposal, although then it is likely that the same cabins will also come aboard the A350s, but not the giant A380s because they have already been renovated and will likely come to the end of their lives with the current cabins.
In conclusion
Sure if it delays further it is possible that we will see some airline do as Lufthansa did, the problem is the size.
The 777/9 is larger than the A350 and much larger than the 787 so it is not certain that the same products will fit into the nacelles of these aircraft without modification, but modifications cost money and must be certified, all of which are expensive and time-consuming operations. Time that carriers are no longer willing to waste and that Boeing can no longer afford to break promises.
