In the past few years, Boeing’s most recent design has received a number of significant orders.
With more than 350 orders, the Boeing 777X has made it into the fleet plans of some of the major carriers in the world. Airlines are thrilled about the newest ultra-long-haul plane, which has new cabins and features but has not yet received certification. The largest 777X orders at this time are shown below. Emirates, based in Dubai, already holds the title of largest Boeing 777 operator in the world, and it hopes to retain it once the 777X is also available. 115 of the kind, with no designated variant, were ordered by the hub carrier. Given its advanced approval status, the 777-9 is likely to make up the majority of this order.
Notably, ten years after placing the first 777X order, Emirates’ order book for the model has actually decreased. It initially ordered 150 aircraft, but since the Emirati carrier decided to expand its fleet with the 787 Dreamliner, that number was gradually lowered to 115 aircraft.
Emirates, though, has found the last few years to be challenging. In its official order book, Boeing still shows 156 orders. The 777X program, whose initial delivery was scheduled for 2020, has been delayed, as Emirates President Sir Tim Clark has publicly said.
Due to COVID, difficulties with the testing, and increased regulatory scrutiny, the deadline has been pushed back to 2025. Clark has even threatened to cancel the order, but this step seems improbable considering the significance of the 777X in the upcoming fleet.
Qatar Airways 3
Qatar Airways is following closely behind. 50 of the new Boeing widebodies (models 777-9 and 777-8) have been ordered by the flag airline. This makes it currently the second-largest customer, and due to a number of factors, it has the potential to keep expanding in the future.
The Doha-based airline will be relieved to have another large, long-haul aircraft in its fleet over the coming several years given Qatar Airways’ continuing disagreement with Airbus regarding the A350. Currently, Qatar’s A350 orders are canceled, and the airline is being compelled to reactivate some of its retired A380s in order to maintain capacity on some routes.
But there will be other 777X aircraft joining Qatar’s fleet as well. The airline has a contract in place to be a 777-8 Freighter early customer, acquiring 34 aircraft with options to purchase 16 more later. The order size rises to 108 planes when freight is added (122 with options).
Singapore Airlines 2
The figures quickly decrease after this. Singapore Airlines, another long-time 777 client, comes in third on the list. With 31 solid orders with Boeing as of right now, the carrier was one of the few to increase its 777X order during the epidemic.
This procurement makes sense when taking into account the 28-aircraft 777 fleet that SIA currently has because it will allow for a speedy upgrade of the fleet. But don’t be shocked if you see more orders in the future.
Lufthansa 1
Due to the 777X’s innovative business class cabin designs, the German flag carrier has become a well-known association with the aircraft. Despite coming out before the Boeing widebody, the updated cabin will still be the fourth-largest user of the aircraft. 20 777X passenger planes in all have been ordered by Lufthansa. Additionally, the airline expanded the program last year by adding seven 777-8Fs to its order.
