Just over a year ago, in a capital market day presentation, British Airways owner IAG revealed that it would receive its first eight Boeing 777-9 aircraft in 2022. However, with delays to the program, will the order still arrive as planned? Simple Flying looks at what we know so far. British Airways is expecting its. Ended a two-year sales drought for its 777X aircraft, as the owner of British Airways struck a deal for as many as 42 of the planes to replace an aging fleet of 747 jumbo jets. International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, has signed an agreement with Boeing committing to purchasing up to 42 777X aircraft, which included 18 orders and 24 options. According to Boeing, the commitment is valued at up to $18.6bn at list prices and will be reflected in the company’s Orders and Deliveries website once concluded. The Boeing 777X once described by Emirates President Tim Clark as a peach has a rosy future. It has been ordered by blue-chip airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, British Airways, and All Nippon Airlines. Boeing Signs Deal for Up to 42 777X Airplanes with British Airways. Boeing and International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, announced February 28, 2019 the airline has committed to purchasing up to 42 777X airplanes, including 18 firm orders and 24 options. British Airways joins a group of leading carriers that have selected the new 777-9, which will.
British Airways 777x
With its backlog decreasing every week in the face of crises, Boeing has sought to close new sales agreements for its commercial aircraft. The latest attempt involves a new sales agreement for the 787 and 777-9 widebodies that is due to be announced by the end of the month.
The identity of that costumer is not revealed much less the details of the negotiation, but the conditions are unusual. The information on the possible sale came amid a lawsuit between Boeing and the Russian cargo airline Volga-Dnepr, which had ordered some planes, including four 747-8Fs.
The order, which is not in the backlog, would have been canceled by mutual agreement between the two companies, but the Russians have changed their minds and want to receive the jets.
In the meantime, Boeing has decided to sell these planes to other customers and does not admit delivering them to Volga-Dpner. In the documents sent to the US courts, Boeing states that “finalized the resale of the 747-8F airplane Volga refused and has scheduled delivery of the plane to Customer A,” without revealing the identity of that company.
However, it was two 777F jets also ordered by the Russian company that ended up revealing the future sales agreement. “In recognition of Customer’s partnership with Boeing as a 777 and 787 customer in …, Boeing will issue to Customer a multi-model aircraft credit memorandum in the amount of …, contingent on Customer executing definitive agreements to purchase (i) Model 777-9 aircraft and (ii) additional Model 787 aircraft on later than June 30, 2020,” informs the document sent to the Justice.
Emirates is one of the airlines that fit the customer’s description that was quoted in a legal document (Emirates)Boeing says it is offering the two 777 freighters as a kind of bonus for an undisclosed airline to purchase more units of the 777-9 (largest version of the 777X) and 787. Few airlines have orders for 787 jets. and 777X, as is the case with Emirates, British Airways, All Nippon Airways or Qatar Airways. There is also the possibility of referring to a lessor since there are ten 777Xs from an unidentified customer on the aircraft’s order list.
Few orders
After more than 500 units of the 737 Max canceled in recent months, Boeing urgently needs new orders to justify the investments and infrastructure it maintains to produce so many planes. The case of the 787 and especially the 777X is even more complex since the demand for these jets is falling. The manufacturer has already announced a major reduction in the production rate of the Dreamliner in the coming years while the “Triple Seven” will be assembled at an even lower rate that includes the classic variant.
The 777X program has been an enormous challenge for Boeing, due to the delay in the schedule and also due to the growing lack of interest in large aircraft. Although it is a very efficient aircraft, the largest twin-engine passenger jet in the world has a capacity far above what appears to be the current market reality. There are strong rumors that its customers may delay deliveries or even cancel orders if global air traffic does not return to pre-pandemic levels soon.
In other words, a good sales deal weighs heavily on Boeing, even if it means offering two 777Fs as a bargain and getting in trouble with the Russians.
The Russian company Volga-Dnepr tries in court to guarantee the delivery of an order to Boeing (RAF-YYC)British Airways has decided to replace its fleet of Boeing 747, the world’s largest dedicated passenger, by the new 777X. According to Boeing, the International Airlines Group, a holding company that controls the British airline, will purchase 42 aircraft of the 777-9 model, 18 of them firm orders and 24 options. The deal could reach $ 18.6 billion.
For now, this is a purchase commitment and so it is not yet on Boeing’s official order and delivery numbers until it is finalized.
“The new 777-9 is the world’s most fuel efficient longhaul aircraft and will bring many benefits to British Airways’ fleet. It is the ideal replacement for the 747 and will be an excellent fit for the airline’s existing network,” said Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive. “This aircraft will Provide further cost efficiencies and environmental benefits with fuel cost per seat improvements of 30 per cent Compared to the 747. It Also Provides an enhanced passenger experience.”
Currently, British Airways has 34 Boeing 747-400 in its fleet and plans to keep them flying for several years, unlike other airlines, which have already begun their withdrawal from service.
The “Queen of the Skies”, which has just completed 50 years of its first flight, is still widely used in the world, but its operating costs are high and has made it unfeasible for many routes.
British Airways has the largest Boeing 747 passenger fleet (Adrian Pingstone/Wikimedia)Debut in March
The 777X has proved to be a masterpiece by Boeing. Although based on the original widebody, introduced in the 1990s, the new large-capacity twin engine (400-425 passengers in a two-class cabin) had its design revised to incorporate technological advances seen today in the 787.
Among them are more efficient wings, more economical engines, advanced avionics and a redesigned cabin that is even wider than the first generation 777. In addition, the 777X will have an innovation, the folding wingtips, a feature that will be used to reduce the wingspan of the jet in the ground in order to avoid adaptations at the airports in which to operate.
Including IAG’s request, the Boeing 777X already has 358 orders and commitments from eight customers. The debut of the new airplane will take place in March and the first flight, still in 2019. The first deliveries are scheduled for 2020, according to Boeing.
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