It is reported that Boeing has started discussions with airline and leasing companies regarding the aircraft’s proposed technical, pricing and schedule details of a Boeing 777X wide-body.
Based on response of its key clients, Boeing will decide whether to proceed with the formal launch of 777X program, or not.
The Boeing Board of Directors authorised the customer discussions last Monday at the company’s Chicago headquarters coinciding with its annual shareholders meeting. The approval to proceed discussions follows in the steps of Airbus’s announcement on April 22 that an existing Airbus client plans to buy 18 Airbus A350-1000s.
The Airbus A350XWB is considered the direct main competitor to the Boeing 777X, Airbus is planning for the A350-1000 to enter service in 2017 if all goes according to plan, compared with an indicated service entry date of 2020 for the all new 777X.
Boeing’s 777X is highly likely to feature composite wings, following in the steps of Boeing’s experience with the 787 Dreamliner, as well as new Eco engines and the possibility of an extended fuselage.
In March of this year, Boeing identified GE as its sole engine partner for the 777X development study with GE budgeting circa $200 million USD during this year on further developing the technology of its next-generation GE90 engine, the GE9X. GE expect that the GE9X engine would generate approximately 100,000 pounds of thrust and burn 10 percent less fuel than the engine that powers the 777-300ER, the GE90-115B.
The specification of the 777X is likely to interest customers interested in a private variant of the aircraft; however it is yet too early to determine when at all a first build slot for a private variant for completion would be available.
More news sure to follow…
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