A record number of customer orders and commitments for the newest member of Boeing’s twin-aisle product family has been set at the 2013 Dubai Airshow at the weekend.
The massive number of orders, reaching 259 airplanes from four customers across Europe and the Middle East, came on the back of the launch of the new 777X programme at the airshow.
The 777X product launch represented the largest in commercial jetliner history by dollar value, with commitments coming from Lufthansa with 34 planes; Etihad Airways with 25; Qatar Airways with 50 and Emirates with 150 airplanes.
The combined value of the agreements is more than $95 million at list price.
“We are proud to partner with each of these esteemed airlines to launch the 777X – the largest and most-efficient twin-engine jetliner in the world,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner.
“The airplane will be 12 percent more fuel efficient than any competing airplane, necessary in today’s competitive environment.”
The 777X includes one of the most advanced commercial engines on the market – the GE9X by GE Aviation – as well as a high-efficiency composite wing that has a longer span than the current 777.
Like the 787 Dreamliner, which was launched as the 7E7, the 777X will be formally named at a later date.
Design of the 777X is underway and suppliers will be named in the coming months. Production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020.
