There’s no airline more reliant on the Boeing 777X than Emirates, as the airline has 270 of these planes on order, and is counting on them for its fleet renewal, to eventually replace the Airbus A380. The issue, of course, is how much this plane has been delayed, as it was initially supposed to be delivered as of 2020, and now we’re looking at 2027 at the earliest.
Along those lines, Emirates President Tim Clark has had some more choice words for Boeing, which I suspect will be echoed by other airline executives, and it’s bad news for Boeing.
In this post:
Emirates doesn’t want Boeing’s first 777X airframes
The first Boeing 777X was built in 2019, so at this point, the plane is around seven years old, despite having never actually operated a passenger flight. Around 10 planes were initially built, and while the expectation was that they’d be in service within a year or two, that obviously didn’t turn out to be the case.
Boeing has had to make significant design changes to the aircraft, and while the idea is to modify the existing frames to make them compliant, that’s easier said than done. Airlines are sort of concerned these planes will be “lemons,” given the number of changes that are being made (and given that we’re talking about Boeing here, who wouldn’t be?).
That brings us to what Clark is saying, regarding the possibility of taking delivery of any of the first 10 aircraft:
“We’re not taking that batch and that’s it. As far as we’re concerned, what they do with them is up to them. Heinz would be interested – baked bean cans.”
“The modifications for the airframe have been so significant since the early flights. And don’t forget we had a static-test failure as well. I went on the first one in 2019, which was fully configured except for our first-class cabins, and here we are in 2026. It’s now seven years on. We’re not taking them.”
The comments from Clark follow a recent report from The Air Current, about how Boeing has quietly scrapped one of its first 777Xs, after sitting dormant for years. It’s going to be fascinating to see how this plays out. Will any airline be willing to take these first batch of 777Xs, or will these just have to be scrapped? It’s understandable that if you’re buying a new plane, you want it to be up to the latest standards, and not a heavily modified frame.
Emirates expects Boeing 777X deliveries in Q2 2027
As it currently stands, Clark is expecting that Emirates will take delivery of its first 777X in the second quarter of 2027, though has threatened to “draw a line in the sand.” As he explained:
“At some point we have to draw a line in the sand. We should have had them in April 2020, so if we get them in the second quarter of 2027, that’s a bit of a stretch under any circumstances.”
The current expectation is still that the plane will be certified late this year or early next year. Of course that would be nice, but that also assumes there are no additional issues. There’s definitely progress being made toward certification, so as time goes on, one would assume that odds improve. Then again, that’s also what I thought in 2025, 2024, 2023, etc.
I will say, it’s kind of funny to hear Clark say that at some point the airline has to “draw a line in the sand.” That’s a completely reasonable sentiment to have, but the issue is that with the aircraft manufacturing duopoly we have, plus the engine issues, airlines really are limited in terms of which wide body planes they can choose.
Clark has in the past referred to the Airbus A350-1000 as being “defective,” but it’s getting to the point where he claims the airline is close to ordering that. I imagine that would delight Airbus, though even so, finding delivery slots any time in the coming years isn’t exactly easy.
Bottom line
Emirates President Tim Clark understandably isn’t happy with the continued delay of the Boeing 777X. It’s now seven years behind schedule, best case scenario. The latest controversy surrounds the already built 777X frames, which require significant updates.
Clark says Emirates will not take delivery of those planes no matter what, and Boeing can do with them what it wants, suggesting they should be turned into baked bean cans. Obviously the potential value of these jets is in the billions of dollars, so that’s potentially a big added expense for the aircraft manufacturer. It’ll be interesting to see if any other airlines are willing to accept them.
What do you make of Clark’s latest Boeing 777X comments?
Wait a darn minute. I thought union labor is 100% trustworthy, right?? That's what 1990 tells us in every other post. You mean that DEI hiring in Seattle by woke Boeing can have negative consequences on passenger safety? I am absolutely stunned by this development. Next, you're probably going to tell me that actions have consequences. You are shattering my socialist utopia worldview with your inconvenient facts. I may need to go in the closet...
Wait a darn minute. I thought union labor is 100% trustworthy, right?? That's what 1990 tells us in every other post. You mean that DEI hiring in Seattle by woke Boeing can have negative consequences on passenger safety? I am absolutely stunned by this development. Next, you're probably going to tell me that actions have consequences. You are shattering my socialist utopia worldview with your inconvenient facts. I may need to go in the closet and have a good cry while I hug a stuffed animal. I detest you real world people who keep trying to use facts and logic. I am so triggered right now.
will Lufthansa still receive planes from the first batch? on planespotters it looks like those are now not assigned to LH anymore
If I had a choice of flying an airbus a350 or a 777X I’m pretty sure I’d pick the Airbus. I don’t trust Boeing and it sounds like no one else does either if they are suggesting to turn the planes into cans of baked beans. How the mighty have fallen.
Perhaps this program wouldn't have been so incredibly expensive ($15B in write-offs?!) if they hadn't kept building airframes for years, when the spec wasn't anywhere near finalized. Boeing's ways are strange ones...
What is the plural for POTUS? Potuses, Potusi? Certainly not President's OTUS, which is a possessive indicating the OTUS which belongs to a president, unless that is what you meant. In that case, what is the president's otus...is that like an organ or something?
As I say every time. The 777-X will NEVER enter commercial service.
Boeing is just running the clock down to 2027-2030 (to see what plays out).
BTW - Whatever happened to the 737 Max-10?
I wouldn't hesitate for a moment flying in one of the 777X test planes.
When I fly 777-200LR they are as old as dirt but still fly safely. The test aircraft have flown and been tested for nearly a decade.
It's been flown and tested for nearly a decade and still is not being certified. That truly inspires confidence.
"When I fly 777-200LR they are as old as dirt but still fly safely."
What on earth does the cleanliness of an aircraft that was certified 20yrs ago... have to do with the safety of an aircraft that hasn't been able to get certified in 7yrs of trying?
you don't mind flying, but do you mind owning a test car that have thousands of miles for price of new?
Nearly 2 years ago, Ortberg stated unequivocally that no customers were expected to take these. But such comments are typical of Tim.
Quit modifying the aircraft!!
The original design is perfect!!
I like baked beans!!
Aircraft sitting around for years being unacceptable? If it's good enough for the USAF to eventually take delivery of a pair of rusty former Transaero 747-8s, what's Tim Clark's issue?
While you're just making up random BS to spew for a attention, I'll note that you left out aliens.
I'm sure they were part of the problem too.
Not the border-crossing ones, the ones from outer space. Since (ya know) that would make about as much sense as the rest of the drivel you wrote.
Wow.. Can you be any more racist in your comments ?
Seriously. America is a nation FOUNDED on Immigrants.
#NeverForget
I bet Baltia and Global will buy them.
Jeff, if only you'd added 'Dey took our jerbs!' you'd literally be the South Park meme. I can appreciate how losing your job (or being forced to retire early) can be life-altering. However, your personal workplace resentment doesn't change a multi-billion-dollar engineering timeline. And, nice try throwing-in charged buzzwords and blaming immigrants. Next time, toss in 'woke' for full-effect.
Where can we document the hull #s so we can avoid these airframes as travelers?
There's some incorrect information, Ben
First of all, for the first batch (2019-2021) of production, there were actually 27 aircraft built, including the four prototypes, including five for LH, three each for QR and NH, and four prototypes. There were actually twelve built for EK, one of which is scrapped, so eleven not ten remaining.
Production restarted in 2024, starting with frames for SQ, and since then, fourteen additional 777-9s have been built (seven...
There's some incorrect information, Ben
First of all, for the first batch (2019-2021) of production, there were actually 27 aircraft built, including the four prototypes, including five for LH, three each for QR and NH, and four prototypes. There were actually twelve built for EK, one of which is scrapped, so eleven not ten remaining.
Production restarted in 2024, starting with frames for SQ, and since then, fourteen additional 777-9s have been built (seven for SQ, three each for LH and QR, and one for EK) plus two 777-8F prototypes. And another EK bound frame should finish being assembled any day now.
finally someone says it out loud
could not agree more!!!!
boeing pc of trash incl their design...,
777
by airbus!!!!!
who needs 787, 737-M
the might need a stick to hold lsnding gesr up....
200%trash approach!!!
poor besnz
Screw Emirates. Screw Sir Tim (Dunn) Clark. And screw Airbus and its illiterate fanboys like this one.
Screw you and Boeing too.
Both of you are defective.
#A380Rocks !
Florida. What a surprise.
All this was caused by a bad CEO and board of directors that made the decision. They outsourced and handicapped engineering on the plane. If it would've been the established Boeing engineers from years back this plane would be flying now. This is the stuff Ortberg has to deal with.
a number of the early 787s were rejected because of being overweight and, of course, there have been production problems with a number of 787s, as Ben has covered.
WN is reportedly going to take some of the early 737 MAX7s which have been built but undelivered for years. Undoubtedly, Boeing is practically giving them away - but WN probably pays a fraction of what Boeing would sell to any other airline.
At the right price these will end up modified to freight carriers.
Speaking of freight conversions, did anyone else see the reports/video of that recent Kalitta Air tail-strike at CVG? Quite a long scrape...
But aren't those 777-9s? I think the only planned freighter version is a 777-8, so I'm not sure if there's even a path to conversion.
Dedicated freighters tend to be built off smaller aircraft and focused on heavy dense freight, but there are passenger aircraft converted to freighters later in life. They tend to be best as the bigger version of the frame, and are optimised for light weight high volume package freight. So for 777 gen 2, the F was based on the -200 while most converted freighters will be based on -300ER not -200LR. So theoretically these frames...
Dedicated freighters tend to be built off smaller aircraft and focused on heavy dense freight, but there are passenger aircraft converted to freighters later in life. They tend to be best as the bigger version of the frame, and are optimised for light weight high volume package freight. So for 777 gen 2, the F was based on the -200 while most converted freighters will be based on -300ER not -200LR. So theoretically these frames could be used to start early on a BCF program for 777-9BCFs.
Brits think canned beans are the solution to every problem. "Can't have a right proper brekkie without beens, innit?"
I wish Airbus would bring back A380 manufacturing for Emirates. It really is the perfect plane for them and allows for the lux features like the shower, bar, etc which help Emirates stand out.
Or, just keep making a321LXR/neo, a350s, and a339s, because those are actually efficient, useful, profitable, and somewhat reliably manufactured, unlike Boeing's 77X and 737 Max (with all their issues, delays). I'd've included a220, which are awesome aircraft frames, but the P&W engine issue has been a disappointment.
If Emirates were willing to pay the proper price Airbus would have but they were losing money on every A380
ORD, oof, thanks for not calling them 'cockroaches' at least... /s
There are numerous life forms lower than cockroaches that Airpus fanboys do not exceed. I'm specifically thinking Entamoeba histolytica and its corresponding continuous flow of total crap.
Did airbus have two plane crashes that killed hundreds due to sloppy construction and bad management?
No wait, it was Boeing.
Florian... got'em! (Also, RIP.)
I'm surprised you didn't go with Cyclospora cayetanensis, you know, the one causing 'explosive' diarrhea in the US these days; though, I suppose Entamoeba is far more painful and medically concerning than merely 'embarrassing.'
No, remember, I work in food safety. I come here to get away from work.