The Gulf carrier Emirates may cancel the order for Boeing 777X passenger aircraft if they are not delivered at least by 2023, airline’s President Tim Clark reportedly told an aviation publication. Boeing 777X passenger aircraft was initially announced for delivery in April 2020 and is beyond the schedule for two years.
“Honestly, if it goes beyond 2023, and it goes on for another year, we probably cancel the program. What else can we do? We can’t continue the way we are. Boeing needs to get their act together and get this aircraft sorted,” Tim Clark reportedly told AirlineRatings.
Although Boeing has not officially issued a statement regarding the delivery, a spokesperson of the aircraft manufacturer told Reuters that it is conducting a series of tests and conditions to evaluate the safety aspect of Boeing 777X passenger aircraft. The manufacturer also assured that it is working with its customers to deal with the delay.
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is also the largest user of wide-body jet aircraft. It is the largest customer for Boeing 777X passenger aircraft.
Boeing Faces Delay in Receiving Safety Certificates for 777X Passenger Jets
Although the reasons for the delay are unknown, Boeing is reportedly facing additional scrutiny leading to safety certification delays from authorities for its aircraft. In the wake of Boeing 737 Max aircraft issues, it is not entirely unfair for the aviation authorities to double-check new Boeing aircraft.
The aircraft is due for certification in mid-2023. According to Clark, Boeing had only given a conditional response when the airline asked about the status of safety certificates.
“You’ve now got a four-year delay with the programme. If they got another year on it, we are going to question if this is fit for purpose or not, what’s the problem with it?” Clark told AirlineRatings.
Boeing seemed to have built 12 of Emirates’ 777X aircraft and had placed them in storage without the engines. Emirates placed the order for 150 Boeing 777X passenger jets in 2013, making it the largest buyer of the model of the aircraft. Later, the airline reduced the order to 115 and swapped the remaining for Boeing 787 aircraft. There are production delays even with Boeing 787.
