Emirates expects revamped version of B777s in six to nine months

Emirates said it expects a revamped version of Boeing's 777 airliner to be available to customers in six to nine months, reports Reuters.

Emirates president Tim Clark said: "The engagement on 777X continues. I believe it will be launched and we'll see that in six to nine months.”

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: "Emirates has long since been pushing for the 777X family to be launched, if only because of its dissatisfaction on the delays to the A350 program and in particular the failure of Airbus to make the A350-1000 a more competitive airplane.

“What Emirates says in public about the launch of any possible 777X family differs from what is actually going on behind the scenes and given Boeing's existing plate full of work with the 787-9, 787-8 battery issues, production ramp ups, the 737MAX development, there is little rush or need to launch such a family just yet - particularly when the 777-300ER is still a money spinner that has no rival, and also because Airbus' A350XWB program is also heavily delayed with more hiccups to come.”

Ahmad added: “As the largest 777 customer and operator, Emirates is jockeying for position to be the launch customer and as it stands, it looks like GE will get the nod to power the 777-9X and 777-8X with its GE9X engine that aims to deliver 10-12% lower fuel burn over the existing 777-300ER while offering greater capacity and range, thanks to an all new wing as well.

“With the 777 enjoying a healthy, profitable and monopoly-position status, Boeing is unlikely to launch any 777X family within six-to-nine months - they'll take their time, draw from lessons and technology employed on the 787 and integrate that to the 777X ahead of a summer launch in 2014.

“2014 has long since been Boeing's preferred target to launch the 777X and there's nothing on the horizon to expedite that in my view."