Emirates Told Boeing Years Ago It Would Turn Away the First 777Xs

Emirates President Tim Clark said at Routes World 2026 in Frankfurt that the airline told Boeing about three years ago it would reject the earliest production 777X aircraft. He said he was surprised by the attention the stance received in July, adding that it was always clear Emirates would not take them.

The jets in question are the earliest 777-9s built for Emirates, part of an initial batch of about 20 that have waited years for certification and delivery. Clark said they would need extensive modifications to meet current standards, so Emirates will accept only newly built aircraft produced under Boeing’s later quality-control processes.

What happens to the rejected aircraft is up to Boeing, which could rework them or offer them at a reduced price. Emirates now expects its first 777-9s in 2027, roughly seven years after the originally planned 2020 start.

Clark said the position would not affect Emirates’ network plans. The airline is extending the service lives of its A380s and 777-300ERs while it waits, so passengers should not expect a sudden change in the aircraft they fly on its routes.

Sources: Aviation Week, FlyingInIreland