Boeing recently revealed that it expects its upcoming 777X widebody
series to enter service within the next two years.
As such, with the type’s commercial introduction, it is worth looking at its largest customers.
A selection of full-service airlines from around the world have placed orders for the type,
but which will have the largest 777X fleet? Let’s find out...
According to Boeing’s data, the US planemaker has three hundred and twenty 777x aircraft
on order as of the end of October. Of these, the smallest orders belong
to European airlines, such as German flag carrier Lufthansa. The Frankfurt-based Star
Alliance founding member ordered 20 examples of the 777X in November 2013, with 14 options.
Elsewhere in Europe, UK flag carrier British Airways has 18 orders for aircraft.
It ordered these in March 2019, alongside options for a further 24. As of February 2021,
the Heathrow-based oneworld founding member was expecting to receive these modern twin-aisle jets
between 2024 and 2027 (which is a delay from the original delivery start time of 2022).
It is worth noting that there are still 10 777X orders without a publicly-known airline. Boeing’s
data lists these twinjets as having been ordered by an unidentified customer in June
2015. It will be interesting to see where these end up, and when they will be delivered.
As it happens, all of the Boeing 777X’s largest six customers are airlines that are based in Asia.
Japanese carrier, All Nippon Airways (ANA) ordered 20 examples of the next-generation widebody
family in July 2014, while Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific ordered 21 examples in December 2013.
However, both of these two carriers have considered deferring their 777X deliveries.
Moving upwards in quantity, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, ordered
25 777X jets back in November 2013, which made it one of the type’s first customers.
Ordering six more, Singapore Airlines, has ordered 31 777X aircraft.
It placed an initial order for 20 of these in June 2017, before adding another 11 in February 2021.
The second-largest customer is Qatar Airways, with the Doha-based carrier having ordered 60.
It placed an order for 50 in July 2014, followed by another 10 in June 2015. There just might be
more to come, however. With Boeing offering the airline the option of a 777X freighter,
and the airline’s CEO publicly announcing interest in a next-generation twinjet freighter,
we could see another deal take place. And finally, let’s move on to the world’s
largest 777X order- which may not come as a surprise to most aviation enthusiasts.
In total, an impressive 115 777x’s are set to join Dubai-based Emirates. The airline
had originally placed orders for a total of 150 aircraft in July 2014,
however, it has expressed frustration regarding the delays that have hampered the 777X program.
As such, it has made revisions to its order, which has left it with 35-fewer
777X aircraft (although this is still the largest worldwide).
This 777X order reduction saw Emirates swap some orders for the 787,
and even had to extend the service lives of its Airbus A380s owing to the holdups.
What do you make of the Boeing 777X? Which of these airlines are you most
looking forward to seeing operate the type? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.