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400 passengers, depending on an airline’s configuration choices. weight and also for a 20-hour flight more room
With a range of more than 8,200 nautical miles (15,185 km), the for economy passengers and a larger premium
aircraft will have the lowest operating cost per seat of any com- economy section will reduce capacity. For
mercial aircraft says, Boeing. The second member of the family, these ultra-long-range operations, no cargo
the 777-8X, will be the most flexible jet in the world claims Boeing. will be carried, freeing up the underfloor area
The aircraft will seat 350 passengers and offer a range capability for passenger bunks, similar to what airlines
of more than 9,300 nautical miles (17,220 km). use today for their flight and cabin crews.

Growing Enthusiasm In Airbus’ favour is its model is lighter because
The unveiling of the 777X in March was muted because of the tragic the fuselage is all-composite whereas the
Ethiopian 737 crash but the buzz the Boeing 777X will create when Boeing 777X retains the heavier aluminum
it enters service next year will be anything but. The 777X looks every fuselage so when not being used on ultra-
bit a winner and blue-chip airlines are signing up for an aircraft long-range routes it would be marginally more
that will burn a massive 40 per cent less fuel per passenger than economical. However, the 777X-8 appears
the A380 superjumbo. Boeing has so far secured orders for 344 to have a greater range and its larger sibling,
and options for another 150. The latest win for Boeing was British the 777X-9, would be a perfect A380 and 747
Airways which ordered up to 42. replacement. The 777X also has a common
cockpit with the 787 in service with Qantas. And
The secret to the success of the 777X is the almost total redesign the 787’s performance with Qantas is “blowing
BOEING’S 777X IS BEING READIED FOR ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT of the baseline aircraft the 777-300ER, which is the backbone of executives away”, say insiders. “They just can’t
the world’s international airline fleets. New engines, new all-com- believe what that aircraft can do,” one execu-
posite wing, lengthened fuselage, wider interior and 787 jet lag tive said.
reduction features make the 777X, which comes in two models,
virtually an all-new aircraft. All these changes enable the 777X-8, The 787’s performance on the Perth to London
the smaller of the two, to carry more passengers, 365, further than non-stop route has exceeded all expectations,
any other aircraft. with only four technical glitches in one year of
operations. It is also the most profitable route
Lone Contender in the Qantas network. Qantas chief executive
And with Airbus scrapping the A380’s production in February — and Alan Joyce said the route’s popularity meant
thus any possible upgrade — the 777X-9, which can carry 414 in a the 787s would be replaced by the more capa-
typical two-class configuration, has virtually no competition at the ble 777X-8 or A350-1000 in 2022. Qantas will
top end of the market. But that is not to say it has the market to make a decision by the end of the year, insiders
itself as Airbus has its own potent big twin, the A350-1000, which say, and the new fleet will be for growth and to
seats up to 370 compared to the 777X-9 in a similar configuration. replace A380s. Other airlines that have ordered
Downunder in Qantas is weighing up offers from Boeing and Airbus the 777X are Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Qatar
for the 777X-8 and A350-1000 to fly non-stop from Sydney to Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific
London with 300 passengers. The smaller number is firstly about Airways, and All Nippon Airlines.

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