Emirates weighs converting 787 order to additional 777X
Emirates is considering converting its order for 35 Boeing 787s into additional 777X aircraft because of delivery delays, its chief operating officer said. A decision is expected within two months.
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Emirates is looking at whether to convert its order for 35 Boeing 787 aircraft into more Boeing 777X jets, the airline's chief operating officer Adel Al Redha said at the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai.
The order is for 20 Boeing 787-8s and 15 Boeing 787-10s. Al Redha said converting remains an option and that Emirates is in talks with Boeing. Delivery delays prompted the review.
Emirates expects to start receiving 777X aircraft from the middle of next year. Al Redha cited that as a reason the airline is re-examining its timetables and cabin specifications. He named the Airbus A350 as an alternative. Emirates already flies the A350, and he said it offers similar seating capacity and range to the 787.
A decision is due within the next two months, he added.
Boeing is building 787s more slowly than planned, chief executive Kelly Ortberg said at a conference this week. He attributed this in part to shortages of engines and seat systems and to delays in certifying cabin fittings.
Recent deliveries have also drawn complaints from carriers. A newly delivered Boeing 787-9 operated by United Airlines, registration N61101, drew attention in the summer over persistent technical problems. American Airlines reported an unusually high number of technical issues with freshly delivered Dreamliners.
Sources
- aerotelegraph.comEmirates könnte gesamte Dreamliner-Bestellung in eine für zusätzliche Boeing 777X umwandeln