Lufthansa was actually supposed to be the first operator of the new long-haul aircraft. But Qatar Airways claims to receive the first Boeing 777X itself.
In the beginning, the customer who supported it the most should receive the new long-haul aircraft first. With a Order of 150 examples helped Emirates 2013 the 777X to a brilliant start. Since then, the golf airline has reduced the order by 35 planes, but it remains clearly the largest customer.
However, Boeing rescheduled much earlier when it came to initial operators. The American aircraft manufacturer made Lufthansa the first recipient of the new model. With the decision for “the modern and highly efficient 777X for your long-haul fleet” is the German airline again first customer of a model become, he explained. Boeing wants to reward this with the symbolic first delivery.
Lufthansa knows nothing about the change of plan
In Doha, however, you see things differently. As early as 2019, Qatar Airways boss Akbar Al Baker said that the company would be the launch customer of the 777X. At the Farnborough Airshow, he reinforced the statement these days and went one better. It will be the first airline in the world to receive a copy of the new long-haul aircraft, he said. The golf airline is the second largest customer with 74 copies.
Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr said last year that the aircraft would be the first operator in the fleet. In Frankfurt, they don’t want to know anything about another change of plan. “For our part, there is no new stand,” said a spokesman for the group. Lufthansa has ordered a total of 27 Boeing 777s – 20 Boeing 777-9s and seven 777-8Fs.
“Great First Time Clients”
Boeing does not want to comment on the details of who will ultimately receive the first Boeing 777x. “We are pleased that we have such great launch customers for the 777x,” says the aircraft manufacturer.
That according to the latest planning, the first copy will be in 2025 handed over to the customer. This is a delay of almost five years compared to the original plan.