Flight International – 11 June 2019

32 | Flight International | 11-17 June 2019 flightglobal.com

PARIS

Special report

❯❯ Launched at the Dubai air show in
2013, Boeing insists the 777X programme re-
mains on track for first flight this year, fol-
lowed by certification and deliveries. The
777-9 will be the first out, followed by the
smaller 777-8. The 777X has new composite
wings, larger windows, a wider cabin and GE
Aviation GE9X powerplants, with larger-di-
ameter fans than any commercial turbofan
engine. The -9 variant will have capacity for
425 seats and 7,530nm (13,940km) range,
while the 777-8 will be capable of carrying up
to 375 passengers and have a 8,690nm range,
according to Boeing.
As of April, Boeing had 344 777X orders,
including at least 281 of the baseline -9, ac-
cording to Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer. Custom-
ers include half a dozen global airlines based
in the Middle East and Asia, including launch

customer Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Ca-

thay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways

and Singapore Airlines. British Airways and

Lufthansa have placed orders too.

Observers describe the 777X as an excel-

lent aircraft and formidable competitor to the

Airbus A350. Its extreme range and heavy

payload capacity make it ideal for ultra-long

routes between major cities, they say. But in-

dustry watchers also suspect the 777X might

be ahead of its time, noting many airlines re-

cently completed widebody replacement pro-

grammes. And aircraft like the 777-300ER

have many years of service life remaining.

The 777X may be Boeing’s next aircraft, but

bigger questions remain about which model

will carry it into the future. For several years,

Boeing has hinted that will be the NMA, a 200-

270-seat twinjet with 4,000-5,000nm range.

Boeing has pitched the NMA as a 757 replace-

ment and a conduit to transform its production

system in preparation for the next big project,

which observers have speculated could be a

737 replacement. Signals earlier this year sug-

gested Boeing was leaning towards moving

forward with the NMA, possibly with a deci-

sion to offer the aircraft this year, an official

programme launch next year and entry into

service in 2025.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The 737 Max crashes and grounding have

brought more uncertainty to the already uncer-

tain NMA. Boeing executives have spoken lit-

tle about the aircraft since the Ethiopian Max

crash; when asked about the NMA in April,

Muilenburg stressed that the programme was

progressing but that the priority was the Max:

“Certainly the highest priority for us is the 737

Max’s safe return to service. We have priori-

tised our resources accordingly as we continue

to work on our NMA effort in parallel,” he said.

As if all those open items are not enough,

Boeing is also working to close two proposed

joint ventures – one commercial, one military

• with Brazilian airframer Embraer. The
  commercial deal includes Boeing purchasing
  80% of Embraer’s commercial unit for $4.2
  billion, leaving Embraer with the remaining
  20%, while the military venture involves
  joint promotion and development of Em-
  braer’s KC-390 transport.
  The companies say the agreements will
  close by year-end. ■

John Gress/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Saab

Muilenburg has insisted pilots

can counter MCAS with a

memorised checklist

US Air Force T-X trainer

award is a bright spot