While the world eagerly awaits (although airlines might be happy for the delay) the arrival of Boeing's new flagship 777X, its predecessor, the 777, has marked a quarter of a century of service. Twenty-five and a half years after United operated the first 777 revenue service in June 1995, how many classic Triple Seven orders does Boeing still have to fulfill?
Most produced Boeing widebody
Boeing's 777 program was launch in October 1990, with United as its first customer with an order for 34 planes. The initial model, the 777-200, took its first flight in June 1994 and entered service almost precisely a year later.
The 777-200 was followed by the 777-200ER in 1997, and the 777-300 in 1998. The 777-300ER came in 2004, and the ultra-long-range 777-200LR in 2006. Three years later, Boeing also added a freighter version, the 777F, to its list of offerings.
In 2018, the 777 surpassed the 747 as Boeing's most produced widebody aircraft. By 2020, orders for the Triple Seven, excluding the anticipated X and the cargo-carrying F variants, totaled 1,616. Adding the freighter version, the number goes up to 1,881.
As of January 2021, according to data on Boeing's website, the planemaker still has unfilled orders for the 777-200LR and the 777-300ER passenger jets, as well as the 777F.
Of the former two, 17 aircraft are yet to be delivered, while customers are waiting for 41 of the latter. This means that Boeing still has 58 of the classic Triple Seven on order.
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The 777-300ER
Beleaguered Pakistan International Airlines, PIA, is still on track to take five of the plane, which would bring its total fleet number up to 17. This would drastically lower the average age of its 777 fleet, as the oldest is 17 years old, and the newest just over 12.
Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot is expecting to take delivery of another three of the 777-300ER before its order is complete. Aeroflot currently has 19 777s in its fleet, having taken delivery of its first 777-200 in 1995. It exited the SkyTeam member's fleet in 2005, along with the second 777 to have been delivered to Moscow.
BOC Aviation, a Singapore-based aircraft leasing company, also has an order for three of the type. The company also has 55 Boeing 737 MAX and three 787-9 Dreamliners on order.
KLM will take two, taking its total fleet of 777s up to 31. UAE-based leasing and financing platform Novus Aviation Capital is also expecting two. One will go to an unidentified customer.
The 777-200LR
Boeing only has one unfilled order for the ultra-long-range version of its 777. This will go to Central Asia and Turkmenistan Airlines, the official flag-carrier of Turkmenistan. The airline already has a fleet of three 777-200s, one of which, EZ-A777, has a VIP configuration and is operated for the Turkmenistan government.
777F
As previously mentioned, Boeing still has a substantial order list for its 777 freighter version to fulfill. DHL is waiting for a total of 12, and competitor FedEx is expecting seven. Hong Kong International Aviation and Volga-Dnepr have six remaining each. Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and EVA Air have four and three, respectively. Qatar Airways, which took delivery of three of the type before the new year, is waiting for another two, and LATAM Brasil one.
How many of the 777 versions have you flown on? Tell us about it in the comments.