Cathay remains bullish on the Boeing 777-9

Cathay Pacific says it’s “looking forward” to delivery of flagship Boeing 777-9 jets beginning in 2027, despite a series of well-documented delays to the 777X program which was initially meant to launch in 2020.

The airline has signed up for 35 of the long-range aircraft – the same number as the 777-300ERs they will replace – and in its 2025 Annual Results released yesterday, maintains that nine of these are due in 2027, with the remaining 26 slated for “2028 and beyond.”

Speaking at a post-results media briefing, Cathay’s Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan said the airline was “in close coordination with Boeing, we have regular teleconferences and meetings with them, and we’re encouraged by the progress they’ve made on the certification front.”

That certification testing remains the final hurdle for Boeing’s US$20 billion project.

The aircraft manufacturer now expects to hand over the first 777-9 to launch customer Lufthansa in “early 2027”, with Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways said to be next in line.

“Obviously until it’s completed there’s still some uncertainty in the final delivery dates for those aircraft,” McGowan added, “but we are fully expecting to receive our first aircraft in 2027 and looking forward to receiving it very much.”

Cathay's new 777-9 first class

The 777-9 will serve as the launchpad for luxurious fully-private first class suites, complementing the Aria Suite business class which is already flying on a series of retrofitted 777-300ERs.

Those 777-300ERs currently sport a first class cabin of six ‘open suites’ which made their debut in 2007.

Going, going, gone: Cathay Pacific's iconic and still much-loved Boeing 777 first class.

“We’re going to retire the current first class product that we have, and we’ll introduce the completely new leading-class product we’ve been working on, with the 777-9,” says Guillaume Vivet, Cathay’s General Manager of Customer Experience Design.

“We are focused on that (2027) date, everybody is working towards that date internally, and that’s when we will launch the new first class product,” Vivet tells Executive Traveller.  

“And it’s not just the physical aspect... we’re completely reworking the service that's going to surround that, and really deliver that world-class experience in dining (and) the way we interact with our customers.”

A shrinking first class footprint?

But as Cathay continues to overhaul its Boeing 777-300ER fleet with the latest Aria Suite business class, the 777s with first class will have that cushy cabin replaced by an expanded Aria Suite business class cabin of 45 seats.

The original plan was for those 777s to be last to go under the knife.

However, each month that Boeing delays the 777-9 could leave Cathay with a shrinking 777 First network.

“We finished last year with 12 777-300ERs with Aria installed,” Vivet reflects, “and by the end of this year, we’ll be at two-thirds (of the fleet).”

Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suite 777 business class.

To help keep those 777s with first class flying a bit longer, Cathay has decided to refit all 35 of its 777-300ERs, rather than draw a line at the previously planned 30 jets.

“Given where we are (and) the fleet transitions, we’re going to do all 35,” Vivet says.

Vivet allows that prior to the arrival of the 777-9 “we’ll have to gradually reduce the number of first class flights… but as we get the 777-9 they will ramp back up.”

Despite its vintage, travellers still hold Cathay's 777 first class in high regard.

Upgrading those additional five 777s will, Vivet hopes, provide “a bit of flexibility” in dealing with Boeing’s tardy timetable.

“We have the 777-9 coming, (and) we have these (extra five) aircraft, so we can play around a bit.”

Cathay also needs to have the new 777 first class suites certified by aviation safety regulators, both on their own and then for installation on the Boeing 777-9.

“We are working very hard on our schedule at the moment,” Vivet shared.

“That’s why building that flexibility in is important to us, so we can move things around if it makes sense.”

From Halo Suites to Aria Apartments?

An application filed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in July 2023 raised the possibility that Cathay intended to market its 777 first class as The Halo Suites.

That name was to be used “in commerce on or in connection with” a wide range of applications such as “luxury and first class air transportation services” as well as “frequent flyer and bonus programs for frequent air travellers.”

However, Executive Traveller understands the Halo brand has been shelved.

In its place, we can’t help but ponder if, given the airline’s adoption of the Aria Suite moniker on its Boeing 777 and Aria Studio for the new Airbus A330 regional business class, if this premium brand might be extended to see Cathay’s 777-9 first class suite promoted as the Aria Apartment.

Also read: Cathay’s new-look The Wing first class lounge and Cathay Pacific New York JFK lounge set for mid-year opening