Emirates reportedly plans to upgrade its entire Boeing 777 fleet in favour of the next-gen Boeing 777X jet from 2020, marking a sweeping update for the Gulf colossus.
With 150 of the 777X airliners on order, that's enough to see all 139 of Emirates' current 777 models – from the 777-200 family through to the 777-300ER – put out to pasture in favour of the advanced fuel-efficient 777X.
Emirates has signed on the dotted line for 35 of the long-range Boeing 777-8X jets, which can carry 350 passengers, and a further 115 of the larger 400 seat but shorter-range 777-9X.
"The 8X is the real sweetheart, as it will fly to the other side of the planet with a good payload," Emirates CEO Tim Clark (below) tells Business Traveller Middle East, which reports Clarks' plans for the sweeping fleet-wide overhaul.
Clark describes the 777-9X as being "able to do 14-15 hour (journeys)" such as the long leg between Australia and Dubai.
The highly-regarded airline exec also confirmed that he'll weigh up the Airbus A350 against the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, despite having controversially cancelled an order for 70 A350s in June last year in what it claimed was a review of its "fleet requirements."
“Let’s start again" Clark says. "Boeing produces the B787-10 and we were interested in that. Now that it’s on the market, we're looking at the B787-10 against the A350-900 to see which will do the job for us. How many we will buy and when, we’ll let you know."
Also read: First Boeing 777X tipped for 2018
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
01 Feb 2015
Total posts 113
Didnt see that coming...
Lufthansa - Miles & More
29 Jul 2014
Total posts 185
What a shock in my mind I can see the 787 coming to there fleet to complment the 777X. I can see emrites replacing the a380 with the 777-9X if an a380NEO dosent appear on the market.
24 Nov 2014
Total posts 7
i'll buy your planes..you give me the flying slots...."
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
06 Feb 2014
Total posts 71
Wow, that is awesome, SQ and TG are you guys watching, you better keep up or you will be left behind!
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 127
TG was left behind ages ago. Let's hope they can remain viable as a carrier, period.
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 127
It's interesting to hear him speak positively of the -8. From what I understand, it hasn't sold particularly well. Apparently the 787-10 and A350-1000 can carry a similar number of passengers with better fuel efficiency.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 191
2020?? gee that's another 5 years + until than we still have to put up with 2-3-2 in business class and probably with this new X version they will have the same configurations as they can squeeze more high paid business class seats in their fleets
as long as the oil flows freely in the arab states they can afford anything so no competition to speak of
It's already a nightmare to change planes in DXB the same level of congestions as LHR or FRA and getting worse by the day as Emirates try to be the biggest in the world-I think will switch to Qatar and Doha as it's has much better facilities and no comparison to this overcrowded hub
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 331
DXB with its two runways is reaching capacity. Hence Dubai has already opened its new airport, Dubai World Central.
its only primarily handling freight at the moment, along with a few low cost carriers. However, that will change as they build out the five runways and associated terminal buildings in the coming years.
Dubai always think ahead. Unlike London/UK which is still trying to decide what to do... Typical useless Brits!!
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 127
In fairness, Dubai has a few things going for it that London doesn't:
1. Authoritarian government that can do what it wants without concern for voters.
2. Miles and miles of empty desert adjacent to the city.
3. Tons of oil money.
4. Cheap labour from the developing world whose working conditions are one step above slavery.
Give me those 4 things and I'll build you a nice airport in London too!
06 Aug 2015
Total posts 3
Dubai doesn't have oil (it's cousin Abu Dhabi does).
For Dubai it's pretty much all tourism.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
06 Feb 2014
Total posts 71
Or maybe, just maybe some world class Airports in Australia?
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