Twenty years ago, when Boeing was developing its 777 aircraft, it held extensive talks with
multiple airlines, including Qantas. Boeing wanted to build the ‘perfect’ medium-haul aircraft,
bridging the gap between its 767 and 747 planes.
Ultimately, Qantas never ordered the 777… so what happened?
When asked about the lost opportunity in 2014 Qantas CEO,
Alan Joyce said “We just have to get on with life,”
The decision to skip the 777 even took Boeing by surprise.
When working on the 777, Boeing consulted eight airlines. All but Qantas went on to buy the plane.
At the time, Qantas had a fleet consisting of Boeing 747s for its transpacific routes, 737-400s
for its domestic routes, and multiple 767s. The airline was looking to expand its
international fleet, and the twin-engined 777 seemed perfect as it would be powered by the
most modern engines available and was then the most efficient long-range aircraft in the sky.
Passenger capacity was around 360, fitting nicely between the existing 767s and 747s in the fleet.
The 777 was also flexible. While it could run on Qantas’ international routes in a
three-class configuration, there was also the option to deploy the plane on some popular
domestic, transcontinental routes. Boeing may have thought it had a
Qantas order in the bag. Instead, Qantas placed a significant order with Airbus.
The year 2000 was a significant time at Qantas. Sydney was hosting the Olympics,
and the airline had just founded oneworld. In that time, Qantas placed an order for 12
A380s and 13 A330s. Instead of an order for 777s, it asked Boeing for six 747-400ERs.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing. Twenty years down the track,
it’s interesting to note then Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon’s comments about the wonders of the A380.
“This revolutionary new aircraft offered capacity and operating savings,
as well as environmental improvements.” For the first two decades of the 21st century,
Qantas’ international fleet was largely comprised of the A380s,
Boeing 747-400s, medium-haul A330s, and, later on, 787s. The Boeing 777 never wore a Qantas livery.
The airline said it decided the 777 was too big for domestic routes. It was right about that.
But the airline also argued the A380 was better suited to long-haul international routes. With the
benefit of hindsight, the airline might have done better to choose the Boeing 777 over the A380.
“It is great to be able to say I wish I could get in a time machine and go back to 2000
and change the fleet order made by not the last CEO,
the CEO before that,” said Alan Joyce. “But the reality is we have the aircraft we have.”
History would repeat itself. Last year, Qantas was working on the now delayed Project Sunrise,
eyeing either the Airbus A350-1000 or the Boeing 777X. Once again,
Boeing pushed heavily for Qantas to run with the 777X on its Project Sunrise routes. However,
Qantas would pick Airbus and the A350 instead. Still, you can’t entirely write off the
possibility of Qantas ever flying the 777. In the 12 months since Qantas chose the A350,
much has changed. International flights are at a standstill, and Project Sunrise is on hiatus.
Along the way, the current Qantas CEO has made some interesting comments,
noting that the environment has changed and that he’s going back to both Airbus and Boeing in a
year or two and asking for new proposals, reflecting the altered market conditions.
So...maybe Boeing’s 777 may still have a chance with Qantas after all.
What do you think? Is Boeing’s 777X still possible at Qantas?
Or will it stick with the A350? Post a comment and let us know.