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Giant

in the plans. Qantas still feels the pain from the Rolls Royce engine issue

on the A380 near disaster in Singapore in 2010, when an exploding
engine almost cause the loss of flight QF32, while Air New Zealand
has suffered from the Trent 1000 engine durability issues on its
Making 787s.

The 777X order book now stands at 358 from eight customers
with launch customer Lufthansa rumored to ordering 14 more and
Emirates possibly to add 20 more to its 150 commitment. The only
dark cloud is the possibility that Etihad may scale back its commit-
ment for 25. With a capacity of 400-425 passengers in a standard
BOEING’S 777X HAS A CLEAR two-class cabin layout the 777-9 is now the only replacement for
FIELD, FOLLOWING AIRBUS’S the 747 or A380 and it will burn 40 per cent less fuel per passen-
DECISION TO END A380 ger than the A380 and almost 50 per cent less than the 747-400.
Boeing claims it will burn 12 percent less fuel consumption than
PRODUCTION the A350-1000.

Geoffrey Thomas Any way you look at it the 777X, to be rolled out mid-March, is
potent competition. In fact, the “father of the 777X” Emirates’
British Airways’ order of up to 42 Boeing 777X President Sir Tim Clark calls it an “absolute peach” Clark, who
aircraft placed in February is a major blow pushed Boeing to launch the ER and LR version of the 777 in 2000
to both the Airbus and Rolls Royce as they by insisting on Boeing giving him a “decent engine” has pushed the
grapple with delays and durability problems. Seattle manufacturer relentlessly to keep improving the 777. The
International Airlines Group, parent of British latest version is almost a new aircraft. New engine, all composite
Airways signed an order for 18 of the 777-9 wing, wider internal cabin and larger windows plus all the passen-
variant with the option to buy 24 more at a value ger features of the 787 such as low cabin altitude make the plane
of US$18.6 billion at list prices despite having virtually a 787 on steroids.
orders for 18 of the competing Airbus A350-
1000. The blow to Airbus comes as IAG CEO Straddling the Market
Willie Walsh has been vocal in his criticism of Boeing is building two models; the 425-seat -9, which will be the
Airbus and Rolls Royce over late delivery of the first to roll out and the longer range -8, which can seat 350 pas-
A320neo and durability problems on the Trent sengers and has a range capability of more than 17,220 km. It is
engines that power BA’s 787s respectively. this model that Qantas and Air New Zealand are evaluating with a
decision expected this year. Other airlines that have ordered the
Early Signs 777X are Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore
The BA 777X order could be a portent of what Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, and All Nippon Airlines. Qantas’s
is to come for Airbus with Qantas and Air New evaluation is called “Project Sunrise” and also includes the Airbus
Zealand about to chose between the A350 and A350 and the airline is demanding Sydney to London non-stop
777X for their fleet replacement and growth capability with 300 passengers.

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