Boeing Announces 777X Order

Boeing has scored another order for its upcoming long-haul jet, the 777X.

The deal comes from Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and involves a commitment for a further 14 of the 777-9s specifically.

The 777-9 currently leads in terms of popularity among the two available 777X jets by a significant margin. The smaller 777-8 model has struggled to attract interest.

By signing the contract with Boeing, Cathay Pacific has become the largest customer of the 777X in the Asia Pacific region and symbolises their vote of confidence in the upcoming long-haul jet and its capabilities.

Cathay Pacific’s order book for the largest twin-engine airplane in the world sits at 35, with the plane able to reduce emissions by 20% and also noise by 40% of the jets it’s replacing. It’s expected to become a flagship product for the airline.

The carrier is purchasing additional 777X jets in a bid not just to renew the existing fleet, which will need replacing, but also to grow the carrier.

Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic in a bruised and beaten manner, Cathay Pacific has had an uphill battle to rebuild not just its financial position but also its broader international network.

After several years of watching from afar and putting in work to bring back its rich history to more markets, it’s in a position of renewed confidence about meeting demand in the future and connecting its Hong Kong hub.

Operating with the 777 family for over 30 years, Cathay Pacific knows what this aircraft series is all about, and adding the latest model in the 777-9 is the logical next step to evolving its operations.

Updates On The 777X

But just what has been going on with the 777X in the last couple of months? This is an aircraft that remains uncertified five years after it was initially meant to debut.

Boeing, towards the end of 2024, made the hard but necessary decision to push back the anticipated launch of the model from 2025 to 2026.

As a result, and with current certification timeframes not ballooning out as they have done in the past, Boeing expects to certify its 777X next year, with a hopeful delivery also occurring in 2026.

Following this, there’ll be a fundamental period of crew familiarisation, and many airlines, such as Emirates, ANA, and even Cathay Pacific, are expecting the jet to enter scheduled passenger operations in 2027. Some of these airlines are preparing for 2028 in a worst-case scenario.

Despite this, in recent times, positive steps have been made to certify the jet after a turbulent last few years, with Jon Ostrower reporting the program was moving into the next step of the process.

The aircraft received the all clear from the Federal Aviation Adminsitration to begin with system demonstrations, which includes more flying and, more importantly, represents the fourth of five reported certification phases.

Unfortunately, no aircraft program is guaranteed a smooth entry into the commercial aviation industry; however, given the events of the last five-plus years, the 777X has undoubtedly been a casualty of all this.

Once the 777X is certified, it’ll be an essential step in the right direction for the business as it overcomes some of the challenges it has been attempting to move past for some time without achieving the desired outcome.

The all-important result, which is so highly sought after, is the approval that will allow production ramp-ups and the completed units to be shipped off for delivery to their intended customers.

Additionally, the certification will be huge for pleasing the airline customers who have committed to the 777X already but have unfortunately battled delays for quite some time, sought compensation and spoke publicly about their frustrations.