Boeing Nears Authority To Offer 777X

[straitman]

There is still time for Qantas to get it right.

Boeing Nears Authority To Offer 777X


By Guy Norris [email protected]
Source: AWIN First

March 11, 2013

Boeing’s board of directors is expected to decide as early as its next meeting in April whether to give the Commercial Airplanes division authority to offer the proposed 777X derivative to airlines.


The milestone move, if confirmed, puts Boeing at the start of a six-year development track culminating with the entry into service of the first of two new 777 family members in 2019. The extended twinjet series will include a 777-8X, sized to succeed today’s 777-300ER, and a larger 777-9X which opens up new territory in the 400-plus seat, long range market.

Before the 777X proposal goes before the board, however, Boeing needs to finalize one of the most crucial decisions it has faced over the new development: whether to offer the larger twin with a choice of engines. The longer range 777-200LR/300ER versions, which now account for all but a handful of 777 orders, are powered by General Electric
GE90-115 engines provided under a sole-source deal agreed in 1999.

According to airline sources, Boeing is believed to be on the verge of selecting General Electric’s GE9X under a similar agreement for the follow-on 777X. Boeing had been considering offering Rolls-Royce’s proposed RB3025 as an alternate to the GE9X, mostly under pressure from the airlines which wanted the competitive benefit of an engine choice. However, having eliminated late last year a study version of a higher thrust variant of Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan, it now seems Boeing is once again set to continue along the sole-source path with GE.

 

[Flying Fox]

The milestone move, if confirmed, puts Boeing at the start of a six-year development track culminating with the entry into service of the first of two new 777 family members in 2019. The extended twinjet series will include a 777-8X, sized to succeed today’s 777-300ER, and a larger 777-9X which opens up new territory in the 400-plus seat, long range market.

So if the new 777-9X goes ahead with 400+ seats, Boeing will end production of the 747?

 

[Fruitcake]

So if the new 777-9X goes ahead with 400+ seats, Boeing will end production of the 747?

747 passenger orders will probably die a natural death soon enough but the 747-8F's ability to deal with outsize cargo is still a valuable market niche (777Fs apparently have a comparable payload/range ability to the 747F but their nose doesn't tip up). So I think new build 747s will slowly roll off the line for a while yet.

 

[Flying Fox]

I was thinking about that too but there would have to be a minimum of x 747-8F's pa to keep the line going before Boeing considered it unprofitable.

 

[maninblack]

There is still time for Qantas to get it right.

Boeing Nears Authority To Offer 777X

Qantas has had 20 years to get it right! The 777 is a tremendous aircraft, imagine if QF had built a fleet of 777 200's, 300's and LR's over the past decade or so, I think they would be laughing today and have so much more flexibility. Anyway...

 

[Awesom Andy]

Qantas has had 20 years to get it right! The 777 is a tremendous aircraft, imagine if QF had built a fleet of 777 200's, 300's and LR's over the past decade or so, I think they would be laughing today and have so much more flexibility. Anyway...

No aircraft type can save an airline from continual enhancements to its network and customer benefits. Even if we replaced all 744s with 777s of different variants, the only difference they might have is an extra few million dollars in the bank from lowered fuel costs. It won't give you better services on board. It won't give you better seats. It won't give you uncrowded lounges.

 

[docjames]

No aircraft type can save an airline from continual enhancements to its network and customer benefits. Even if we replaced all 744s with 777s of different variants, the only difference they might have is an extra few million dollars in the bank from lowered fuel costs. It won't give you better services on board. It won't give you better seats. It won't give you uncrowded lounges.

And new a/c will also give you far larger finance costs offsetting and fuel savings.

If they'd bought them years ago they would be in a better position, but the ship has sailed.

 

[elbarto]

What can the 777 do for QF that the A330 and 787 can't, other than additional capacity? The only routes I can see are South Africa and South America and unless CASA changes its rules on etops then those routes will remain the domain of the quad jet (or dropped when QF retires the 747)

 

[maninblack]

I'm not suggesting that they buy them now, they needed to do it years ago before they went down the A330, A380, 787 path. (or 'up the garden path' as it has turned out)

 

[whatmeworry]

Another article on the 777X.

Boeing reveals plans for world's longest range passenger jet

 

[v8Statesman]

Interesting plane, at 9,300nm it can fly pretty much nonstop from Townsville/Cairns to anywhere in the world.

Great Circle Mapper

Great Circle Mapper

 

[Ansett]

Interesting article but they need to learn Maths

The 777-8X, boasting a range of 9500 nautical miles (17,600 km),

compared to

777-200LR, the industry's current distance champion, with a range of more than 9300 nautical miles (17,200 km),

whereas the A340 can only do

Airbus A340-500, was capable of flying 9000 nautical miles (13,480km) This should be around 16,679 Km

I know its nit picking sorry.

Back to topic look forward to seeing more of the programme and what batteries it will use

 

[Flying Fox]

Another article on the 777X.

Boeing reveals plans for world's longest range passenger jet

I'll take a 777-8X thanks

'It could potentially make flights from Australia's east coast to London non-stop' - Whilst the economics haven't been done yet, wonder whether this is the 777 that QF will buy?

 

[whatmeworry]

I'll take a 777-8X thanks

'It could potentially make flights from Australia's east coast to London non-stop' - Whilst the economics haven't been done yet, wonder whether this is the 777 that QF will buy?

I am guessing with the EK tie up, QF will probably not go down that path. Just imagine what the fuel taxes the UK will impose for a flight that long!

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmmm, have to see what QFs thought on it are and whether it fits their strategy... If they actually have a strategy...

And does everything have to have an 8 in the model number these days??? How did we get to having new models start at ***-800?? 747-8i??? is it just because the 380 came out and everyone now associates an 8 in there somewhere as being the latest and greatest???

 

[whatmeworry]

Some Asians consider the number 8 to be a lucky number. Perhaps that is the reason?

 

[Fruitcake]

And does everything have to have an 8 in the model number these days???

Folklore says it is to appeal to the emotions of Asian aircraft purchasers. There is empirical evidence of much greater value being attached to house number 88 etc in this part of the world, because of the "lucky" status of the number 8.

As for the influence of a number 8 on airline fleet planners - I have no idea.

 

[codash1099]

Hmmmm, have to see what QFs thought on it are and whether it fits their strategy... If they actually have a strategy...

And does everything have to have an 8 in the model number these days??? How did we get to having new models start at ***-800?? 747-8i??? is it just because the 380 came out and everyone now associates an 8 in there somewhere as being the latest and greatest???

How about the i777?

 

[Robert Qld]

Interesting plane, at 9,300nm it can fly pretty much nonstop from Townsville/Cairns to anywhere in the world.

Great Circle Mapper

Great Circle Mapper

Why won't somebody think of a plane to do the Cairns-Dakar route!!! Lol (j/k)

 

[UP4014]

So if the new 777-9X goes ahead with 400+ seats, Boeing will end production of the 747?

While ever someone wants to buy keep the line running. The 767 still has a production running, why end it while you have a customer want them. 747 still has customers wanting them new.

matt