The 777-8’s fuselage length has been extended by Boeing, increasing the number of passengers it can carry to 395 and its range to 8,745 nautical miles.
Only 24 777-8 orders have been placed thus far, compared to 304 777-9 orders, indicating a poor pace of sales.
It is hoped that the design change to the 777-8 will bridge the order gap with the 777-9, although it is unclear whether the added capacity and range will draw in more buyers.
Boeing has disclosed an alteration to the 777-8’s design, lengthening the fuselage by 3.5 feet. As a result, the 777-8’s passenger capacity has grown from 384 to 395 (based on a two-class configuration) and its range has increased from 8,730 nautical miles to 8,745 nautical miles.
The plane is a part of Boeing’s 777X program, along with the 777-9, which the manufacturer thinks will help it better compete with planes like the Airbus A350-1000. The 777X is a striking airplane with its unusual folding wingtips and 10 ft wide GE9X engines. The project has experienced numerous delays, and it is currently more than five years behind schedule. Did less-than-expected sales trigger the modification?
The 777-8’s design was altered possibly as a result of the aircraft’s slow sales. Only 24 of the total 777X orders to far are for the -8 type; the remaining 304 orders are for the larger 777-9 and 55 orders are for the 777-8F freight planes. In a two-class configuration, the 777-9 can accommodate up to 426 passengers, which is more than 40 more than the 777-8’s initial design. The extra passenger capacity has proven to be popular with carriers. Eight 777-8 orders came from Etihad Airways and sixteen from Emirates, two UAE-based airlines. However, speculation that the airline had changed its 777-8 orders to the 777-9 arose when 16 more 777X aircraft were added to Boeing’s order books in June 2023. With 74 777X aircraft ordered, Qatar Airways is expected to be the next-largest 777X operator after Emirates, followed by Singapore Airlines with 31.
The secret to Boeing’s future success
The 777-9, one of the two 777X passenger types, is anticipated to begin service in 2025, while the 777-8 won’t arrive until 2027. Initially, Boeing had hoped that Qantas would choose the plane for its Project Sunrise flights from Australia to London and New York. The company decided to go with the Airbus A350-1000 instead. Boeing has endured the well-documented effects of two 737 MAX crashes and the type’s subsequent grounding, as well as delivery challenges with its 787 aircraft and the pandemic, over the previous five years. However, the firm started recording solid earnings again earlier this year.
The 777X program will be crucial to Boeing’s future success, and these minor changes to the 777-8’s design could aid in bridging the considerable order gap between it and its larger sibling, the 777-9. For the time being, it is unclear whether the additional capacity and range will be able to make up for the aircraft’s delayed delivery.
READ MORE: https://bangkokone.news
SOURCE: http://simpleflying.com
