Emirates may buy longest-range Boeing 777-200LR jets

Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-232(LR) (29740/697) N701DN "The Delta Spirit" departs Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) on January 18, 2012.

(Photo by Michael Carter)

Boeing  may be getting an order for up to 15 of the ultra-long-range 777-200LR jetliners, a boost in the company’s effort to keep the Everett line going at full rate until the 777X is in full production.

 

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that Emirates Airlines President Tim Clark said a potential order is “under the microscope.” Clark spoke at a side interview at the International Air Transport Association’s annual meeting, June 7 through June 9, in Miami.

 

Such an order would have particular significance because Emirates is already is the largest operator of 777s.

 

Right now the Dubai-based carrier operates 144 of the current version of the 777 jet, and has another 49 on order, according to the Journal.

 

Emirates launched the 777X in 2014 with an order for 150 of the newly designed plane, worth $5.6 billion.

 

Emirates is significant because its one of the world’s largest airlines, operating a global network of connecting flights feeding out of its hub in Dubai. Its network depends on two long-range wide body aircraft: Twin-engine Boeing 777s, and much-larger four-engine Airbus A380s.

 

If Emirates does order the jets, they’ll likely be enticed by the many tweaks Boeing is implementing on the classic model, as it tries to attract orders before the 777X is in full production.

 

Boeing has said it needs to sell 50 to 60 aircraft yearly to maintain the current rate of 8.3 monthly, or about 100 a year until the plane is fully replaced by the 777X.

 

So far this year Boeing has sold 25 of the classic models.

 

An order for Boeing 777-200LRs would be notable because it’s the world’s longest-range commercial aircraft, able to carry 266 people 9,400 nautical miles, in Emirates configuration.

 

Emirates last ordered the model in 2005.

 

The larger and more popular 777-300ER is more limited in range, at about 7,800 miles.

 

The new tweaks include fuel burn efficiencies, as well as interior changes allowing up to 14 extra seats, for a total 5 percent gain in per-seat fuel cost, said 777 Program Manager Elizabeth Lund, at a pre-Paris Air Show briefing June 1.

 

“This is a really neat bridge airplane,” she said. “As you look at bridging from today’s ER to enhanced ER, it creates a great bridge in transition to 777X.”

 

(Steve Wilhelm - Puget Sound Business Journal)