Boeing’s June order list included an interesting one from Emirates. The airline reportedly placed on order for 16 777X, some ten years after the original order at the 2013 Dubai Airshow.
Reading the fine print of Boeing’s background sheet, it appears that the 16 aircraft were first de-booked and then another 16 listed related to what the airframer calls ‘re-contracting’.
According to Aviation Week, Emirates has renegotiated the 777X order, canceled 16 777-8s, and substituted them with the larger 777-9. All this should have been agreed on June 6.
Which happens to be the same day when AirInsight enquired about the status of the 777-8 order during a media roundtable with Sir Tim Clark at the IATA AGM in Istanbul. That morning, Clark confirmed that Emirates still was keen on getting the yet-to-be-launched 777-8.
“We have 35 of them on order and we still want them,” said Clark, who expressed irritation that Boeing hadn’t informed him in 2022 when the airframer announced it would launch the freighter version first. It is still not clear when the passenger 777-8 will be launched, but Boeing said earlier this version will follow after the -8F. Make that 2029-2030.
In that light, ordering more 777-9s makes sense and guarantees the airline future capacity to eventually replace the Airbus A380, which will be gradually phased out from 2032.
AirInsight asked Emirates to give us an update on the latest 777X order and the 777-8, but a spokesperson says:
“We’re not making any comment on the 777X. Maybe more at Dubai Airshow. For now, I can confirm our 777X order remains unchanged at 115 units.”
