Cathay Pacific Plans 777X & 787 Order

Cathay Pacific wants to purchase the 777X and even the 787 as part of a new widebody order. The purchase would come weeks after airline executives celebrated a major commitment to Airbus planes.

According to Bloomberg, the airline is considering further developing its widebody fleet by adding more aircraft, most likely from Boeing.

The early stages are underway to formalise this order and determine specific options, but early reporting, as seen in this portion of the deal, is more favourable to Boeing.

Securing additional Boeing aircraft to fuel future growth would essentially act as the final pillar of the airline’s major fleet renewal and growth efforts and set it up to meet all available demand in the coming decades.

Cathay Pacific already has the 777X in its order book; however, it could bid for more in another highly lucrative prospective contract for the upcoming long-haul aircraft.

However, the Boeing 787 is not currently in its order book but was touted as a possible option alongside the 777X for future flying.

Some onlookers have raised the prospect of adding complexity rather than harmony to the fleet if this part of the deal were to be acquired, with likely overlapping in the jets it would fly in the coming decades.

For example, based on fleet data, the airline already has the A350 active and flying but has also purchased the A330neo. The 787 and A330neo are seen as competitors, and depending on the Dreamliner variant selected, onlookers may argue that existing planes could do the job.

The overlapping comments are because, as the 2020s develop, a significant amount of focus has been placed on streamlining efforts. By streamlining, airlines look to minimise complexities with their fleet types and stick to a core handful that can benefit them.

Lots Of Interest For 777X

Despite struggling to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the 777X has enjoyed a very busy week, with core interest coming from multiple airlines.

Riyadh Air first expressed its desire to commit to additional widebody aircraft with the 777X, possibly complementing an existing order for the 787 Dreamliner.

Meanwhile, China Airlines also looks set to finalise a deal for new widebody aircraft, including purchasing the 777X to renew its fleet and expand it further to meet strong demand.

Despite this, recent delays in the delivery of the aircraft stretching to 777X have clouded the progress of the long-haul jet and its success with prospective aircraft orders, for it is still unable to fly with passengers nearly five years after it was initially meant to enter service.