The 777X is Boeing’s new flagship aircraft, which is badly delayed. The jet was supposed to enter service in 2020, but has been delayed until at least 2026, due to certification issues. On the plus side, things are finally looking up, and it seems that timeline might be realistic, with the plane nearing certification.
The 777X plays a crucially important role in the fleet planning of several airlines. For example, with Airbus A380 production having ended, the 777X will eventually be Emirates’ new flagship aircraft. However, I’d argue there’s one airline that’s most in need of the 777X, and that’s Cathay Pacific. There’s an exciting update, as the airline has just increased its 777X order by roughly 67%!
In this post:
Cathay Pacific now has 35 Boeing 777-9s on order
Cathay Pacific has just increased its Boeing 777-9 order from 21 aircraft to 35 aircraft, which is a pretty major development. The airline expects to take delivery of the first of these jets in early 2027. Cathay Pacific is now the largest 777X customer in Asia-Pacific. Here’s how Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam describes this:
“We plan to expand and renew our fleet with the additional 777-9 aircraft, enabling us to continue our rich history of connecting the world with our Hong Kong hub. Cathay Pacific aims to further strengthen our ongoing partnership with Boeing and leverage the world-class features of the new 777-9 as we strive to become the world’s best premium airline.”
These planes are intended to be Cathay Pacific’s new flagship long haul aircraft, and replace older 777s. Cathay Pacific has otherwise modernized its long haul fleet with Airbus A350s, but they don’t feature first class.
It’s interesting to see how Cathay Pacific’s plans have evolved over time. Going into the pandemic and at the start of the pandemic, Cathay Pacific had a really rough few years. Hong Kong was already struggling before the pandemic, given the situation with China, and then Hong Kong went into full lockdown during the pandemic, bringing Cathay Pacific to a standstill.
In 2013, Cathay Pacific placed the initial order for the 777X, and in 2020, Cathay Pacific actually deferred its Boeing 777X order, which was a disappointing development. However, thanks to Boeing’s delays, that didn’t actually have any implications.
Cathay Pacific has recovered very nicely in the past couple of years, and has returned to profitability. Now the airline is severely capacity constrained, not just due to a shortage of aircraft, but also due to a shortage of pilots.
The reason I think Cathay Pacific is more in need of 777Xs than any other airline is because these are the only flagship long haul aircraft the airline has on order. Cathay Pacific shrunk considerably during the pandemic, in particular with retiring many of its 777s.
Now the carrier’s entire ability to add long haul capacity relies on the 777X. Otherwise Cathay Pacific has only Airbus A330-900neos and A321neos on order (while A330neos are capable of flying long haul, Cathay Pacific intends to use them as regional, high density planes).
Cathay Pacific’s new jets should have amazing cabins
Not only does Cathay Pacific desperately need 777Xs in terms of long haul capacity, but the plane is also really exciting from the standpoint of passenger experience. That’s because the 777X will feature Cathay Pacific’s latest cabins.
For one, Cathay Pacific will install its new Aria Suite business class on 777Xs. The initial plan was for this to debut on 777Xs, but due to the delays, the airline is now starting to roll out these seats on 777-300ERs, and several planes already have the new cabins.
While I’m excited for existing 777s to get these seats, it’ll be even nicer when factory fresh 777Xs get the cabins, since the plane should otherwise feel more modern.
What’s perhaps most exciting about the 777X is that this is where Cathay Pacific will debut its new Halo Suites first class. We don’t actually know what this product will be like yet, but rumor has it that it will be spectacular.
Cathay Pacific filed for a patent for a new first class product back in 2019, and this appears to be based on Paperclip Design’s Peacock Suites concept. The below pictures should give you a sense of just how impressive this product might be (though I’d expect Cathay Pacific to have a customized version of this, so don’t expect it to be exactly like this).
Let me emphasize that it’s entirely possible that this isn’t the product that Cathay Pacific introduces, as something could have changed. However, I think odds are decent, especially with the direction first class is headed for those airlines choosing to keep it around.
As Cathay Pacific reconfigures its existing 777s with new interiors, it’s also removing first class. So in the long run, the plan is for first class to only be available on select 777-9s. Note that the expectation is that some 777-9s will be in a four cabin layout, while some will be in a three cabin layout, so not all will get first class. I’d guess that the initial 21 frames ordered will get first class, while the additional 14 frames probably won’t.
Bottom line
Cathay Pacific has increased its Boeing 777X order from 21 aircraft to 35 aircraft, which is an exciting development. While several airlines are relying on the Boeing 777X for fleet renewal, there’s no other airline that’s solely reliant on the jet for long haul fleet renewal. Cathay Pacific should be roughly the fifth airline to start taking delivery of 777-9s, in early 2027.
The 777Xs are exciting for the oneworld carrier not just because they will finally allow the airline to add capacity, but also because they’ll feature Cathay Pacific’s newest products, including a yet to be revealed first class product that should impress.
Anyone else excited about Cathay Pacific 777-9s?
Even with this new order, the 777X book is still a bit of a stinker when you remove the EK and QR numbers from the tally. Type certification has been such a convoluted nightmare that I'm not going to believe it's all real until the first aircraft is delivered and operates its debut commercial service.
Just to add, the bigger titles are nice, and in another PR photo, the green colour on the livery blends nicely with Hong Kong's landscape.
One thing is somehow left out in the reporting in this supplemental agreement between Boeing and Cathay is that CX is getting 7 additional purchase rights of the 777-9 aircrafts.
I'd also order a bunch more 777X if I was running an airline. With the monumental delays and Trump trying to big-up American Industry, these probably cost the same as a Cybertruck.
Better than paying a hundred million for a flaming bag of Toulouse dog crap.
Clearly there are some ORDinary folks (resembling “Bears of very little brains”) who lap up all of the Boeing propaganda and quite obviously have never set foot inside an Airbus cabin.
Nor do the ORDinary folks appear to read Ben’s flight reviews. For to do so would effectively educate the ORDinary folks and broaden their knowledge base.
Thank you ORDinary contributor for giving the readers an insight into your bigotry …. :-)
First, Trump is Boeing's #1 salesman right now and addressing trade imbalances has provided opportunity to push Boeing's products.
second, the 777X is a high dollar product so, when Boeing starts delivering 777X, it will tremendously help Boeing's bottom line. Presumably CX would not add on to their order if they didn't think Boeing was nearing the end of the process.
third, the 777X, at least as the -9 is a high capacity...
First, Trump is Boeing's #1 salesman right now and addressing trade imbalances has provided opportunity to push Boeing's products.
second, the 777X is a high dollar product so, when Boeing starts delivering 777X, it will tremendously help Boeing's bottom line. Presumably CX would not add on to their order if they didn't think Boeing was nearing the end of the process.
third, the 777X, at least as the -9 is a high capacity aircraft but it will be a less capable aircraft than the A350-1000 in terms of range. Boeing says the 777-8 will be competitive - if not more capable - than the 35K but until the 777-9 is flying, it will be hard to know how closely the 777-8 will come to the 35Ks performance - and the 777-8 is expected to be a bit larger than the 35K
CX is a 35K operator so they do have access to a very long range new generation aircraft
"addressing trade imbalances" lmaooooooooo
Tim plz stick to Delta numbers buddy youre good at that
I wouldn't credit this particular order from CX to Trump simply because this is just for CX to exercise the purchase rights. CX did that all the time, in A330-300, A350s, B777 classic, B747-400, etc. Other orders, you may credit Trump for them, but not this one.
Boeing says a lot of things.
But the fact that the 777-8 will weigh 358 tonnes, yet offer less range (at similar payload) than the 322 tonne A350-1000 already does today...
...goes a long way towards explaining why only two airlines (EK and QR) have the 777-8 on order, or have shown the slightest bit of interest in it, for the 13yrs that it's been available to order.
I don't disagree w/ you, CB. But it is rare in commercial aviation for one of Airbus or Boeing to not have an answer to a product the other makes.
I fully expect the 35K will be the only credible player in the ULH over 300 passenger segment. but Boeing can't say that they aren't creating a competitor.
CXTrav,
I'm not saying that Trump gets credit for this order. I am saying that Trump...
I don't disagree w/ you, CB. But it is rare in commercial aviation for one of Airbus or Boeing to not have an answer to a product the other makes.
I fully expect the 35K will be the only credible player in the ULH over 300 passenger segment. but Boeing can't say that they aren't creating a competitor.
CXTrav,
I'm not saying that Trump gets credit for this order. I am saying that Trump has done more to help Boeing sell its products because an order for Boeing aircraft can quickly change a trade imbalance. And I won't debate with those that argue about trade balance or imbalance but the concept is real; whether it should be handled the way it is being handled now is not a question I am addressing.
Not sure that 2027 is all that realistic for induction into Cathay.
Even if Boeing gets fully certified in 2026, that's just for the plane. Then the interiors need to be installed (which nowadays frequently has its own delays), and then everything needs to be certified again with the interiors. I can see the business class not being too big an issue to certify (since it's basically a standard reverse herringbone with a door, and...
Not sure that 2027 is all that realistic for induction into Cathay.
Even if Boeing gets fully certified in 2026, that's just for the plane. Then the interiors need to be installed (which nowadays frequently has its own delays), and then everything needs to be certified again with the interiors. I can see the business class not being too big an issue to certify (since it's basically a standard reverse herringbone with a door, and it's already flying on 777s). But if the first class is as radically new as you're saying it will be, that will likely take time.
IOW, there are still lots of steps that need to occur -- beyond just the basic certification that Boeing still doesn't have -- for these birds to fly. 18-24 months seems exceedingly aggressive for it (especially since they're probably not the launch customer so they won't even get the first aircraft off the line).
According to CCO Lavinia Lau, not all 779s will have first class.
Apparently I didn't read the edit, so that's on me! ;)
Excellent news for Boeing and America, and with no a380 production there is no alternative.
The European airlines such as SWISS, this is how you rescue your country from the high tariffs.
Hank, on the right side of the pond one has a different view. This and other top up orders are not fooling anybody over here. The chances of Boeing being able to fulfil these orders in this half of the century are considered to be near impossible. Design anomalies, regulatory hurdles and workforce uncertainty is only a start of the Boeing challenges yet to come. This is hardly “Great news for America”.
Has it not...
Hank, on the right side of the pond one has a different view. This and other top up orders are not fooling anybody over here. The chances of Boeing being able to fulfil these orders in this half of the century are considered to be near impossible. Design anomalies, regulatory hurdles and workforce uncertainty is only a start of the Boeing challenges yet to come. This is hardly “Great news for America”.
Has it not occurred to those who should know better, that topping up existing orders for American goods is mainly undertaken to ensure lower tariffs elsewhere? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush …. or in this case a Trump-card.
Wahhh, wahhh, wahhh, they didn't order A350s! Go whine somewhere else, Tim.
More mindless morons meander mournfully around this website, obsessively posting meaningless mundane messages.
The madness of these misappropriation mongers is mind blowing.
Condolences to their families and friends for having to endure their presence.
Presidential administrations come and go regularly. The 1930s-style protectionist nonsense coming out of DC right now won't last. No airline is going to buy billions of dollars worth of equipment just to appease the United States any more than they will spend many billions of dollars of stockholder cash on years-long plans to relocate pharmaceutical and electronics manufacturing plants to US soil. Trump's term will be over in the blink of an eye.
I hope and pray. Can't end quick enough.
It's been a while since their last Boeing or GE order, so it's good to see, even if it's merely a top-up. I can also see a 778F order eventually when the 748Fs are ripe for retirement,
I anticipate a top-up A350 order in the next couple of months as they can certainly use more.
I just wonder what new routes with first class will open up or at least return. If you put...
It's been a while since their last Boeing or GE order, so it's good to see, even if it's merely a top-up. I can also see a 778F order eventually when the 748Fs are ripe for retirement,
I anticipate a top-up A350 order in the next couple of months as they can certainly use more.
I just wonder what new routes with first class will open up or at least return. If you put together routes now, pre-COVID and mid 2000s-late 2010s on either the 744, A340, or 77W, you had JFK, Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Haneda, Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Milan, Rome(?), Frankfurt, Sydney, Melbourne(?), Auckland, Johannesburg, Zurich. So quite hefty amount.