Emirates, Boeing’s biggest 777X customer with 115 firm orders, not only expects another delay with deliveries but is looking to swap out orders for the smaller 787-9.
In an interview with Bloomberg Emirates chief operating officer, Adel Al Redha said that the first delivery would not be until 2022.
Boeing originally planned to begin deliveries of the 777X in 2020 but certification delays and COVID-19 have pushed that out more than another year.
READ: Over 100 A380s grounded forever says airline expert.
Back in 2019, Emirates reduced its original order for the 777X by 24 aircraft, swapping them for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Lufthansa also swapped 14 777X orders to 20 787s orders.
“We will be discussing with Boeing in that regard if we look at what we can do with the 787. We are in a fluid discussion and in the peak of re-examining all these kinds of things. It does require re-examination, it does require re-thinking, it does require renegotiation,” Adel Al Redha told Bloomberg.
Emirates chief operating officer, Adel Al Redha
The Boeing’s 777X order book is Emirates 115, Qatar Airways 60, Lufthansa 6, Etihad Airways 25, Cathay Pacific 21, All Nippon Airways 20, Singapore Airlines 20 and British Airways 18.
It is expected that more 777Xs will be swapped for 787s - either the 787-9 or 787-10.
While the current pandemic is a blow to the 777X its long term prospects and that of its arch-rival the A350-1000 look very promising as they both deliver huge fuel savings.
Boeing now has three 777X aircraft flying in the test program.
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