Boeing Delays Ultra Long Range 777X

If I had to guess, I would assume the causation runs the other way. Qantas have probably already picked Airbus, without it being announced yet, and Boeing have found and and decided to “delay”.

@ Garrett wow, really? Boeing's management should be fired, prosecuted and forced to pay restitution from their own assets. I am a life-long capitalist that believes the market should be allowed, in most cases, to regulate itself. However, the criminals in Boeings’ boardroom repeatedly committed fraud and knowingly allowed these planes to fly – which be legal definition makes them guilty of second degree murder. Just no one is willing to do anything as it would expose the hypocrisy that the FAA went along with it.

I'd expect an order from Qantas consisting of the A350-1000ULR for project sunrise ultra long haul flights. A350-900ULR could be on the cards if they want to expand to other European cities such as Paris Frankfurt, Rome and Madrid. A350-900 or A330-900neo as a replacement for their aging fleet of A330's. A321XLR for an expansion into secondary Asian cities. A320neo family to replace their also aging 737's. A220's as a replacement for much of the old Qantas link fleet. While I doubt this will happen in one go I would not be surprised to see orders such as these in the near future as part of the Australian flag carrier's expansion.

@ Jake Times change. There’s no denying Boeing’s huge contribution to aircraft innovation. But it’s therefore inevitable that Airbus will then be a follower, as a new entrant in a mature market. As it happens I think you’re at least partly right at the market segment level, Airbus has generally followed Boeing (eg, A350 following 787); but when it does so it seems much sharper at giving customers what they want. It uses emerging technologies more cautiously (eg, no Lithium-Ion batteries on Airbus) but carefully (compare the use of composites in construction). When Airbus innovates (eg, A380) it has, so far, got it wrong. But it also seems to understand other people’s innovations better (its takeover of Bombardier’s range of small jets to give us the A220 family is a great example). It’s different in the military field where Boeing is clearly a vastly more profitable operator (check out the Airbus A400M as a case study in how to start brilliantly but get so much wrong). But I agree with others, it would be better for all of us if there’s more than one major supplier in civil aviation. I hope Boeing gets its act together.

I don't know why some people are so fascinated by defending Boeing... Clearly the company is having quite some problems and Airbus is taking the upper hand in this round, thus a little criticism against Boeing should be considered as constructive and helpful. But some commenters here are just like: "HOW DARE YOU SAY A BAD THING ABOUT BOEING!" Calm down man. There's never a permanent winner in the game of aviation.