ANA's 777X Fleet Expansion First Deliveries Set for Late 2025 as Part of $166 Billion Order
ANA's 777X Fleet Expansion First Deliveries Set for Late 2025 as Part of $166 Billion Order - New Boeing 777X Aircraft to Join ANA Fleet Starting Late 2025
As of today, December 11, 2024, we know that All Nippon Airways is looking to integrate the Boeing 777X into its operational fleet. The current plan suggests the initial batch of these planes will start arriving in the latter part of 2025. This move is part of a much broader fleet renewal and expansion strategy by ANA. Originally, ANA ordered 20 of the 777-9 variant, but it's interesting to note they've since decided to convert two of these orders into the 777-8F freighter version, which are slated for delivery around 2028. Now, Boeing had initially aimed to get these 777Xs out the door and into the skies by 2020. That obviously didn't happen. The program has been hit with a series of setbacks that have pushed the timeline back significantly. From an engineering standpoint, seeing a major program like the 777X face such delays is not entirely unexpected given its scale, but it does raise questions about the initial feasibility assessments. It's a bit of a letdown when you consider Boeing’s own CEO, Tim Clark, was hoping for an October 2025 delivery start. It seems that ambition might be a tad optimistic at this point. Boeing touts that the 777X will bring about a 10% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, along with a similar drop in operating costs compared to its competition. While these figures sound promising, it's worth approaching them with a healthy dose of skepticism until they're proven in real-world operations. Efficiency gains are always a hot topic in aviation, and these numbers will be under scrutiny. ANA isn't new to the 777 family, they currently operate a fleet of 13 Boeing 777-300ERs. I've dug into this a bit and found that 10 of these have been retrofitted with new cabin configurations. It looks like they've focused on enhancing the first and business-class sections, which is a smart move given the long-haul routes these aircraft typically fly. Lastly, it’s quite impressive that the 777X project, launched in 2013, forms part of a massive $166 billion deal that ANA has going with Boeing. It involves a variety of aircraft, not just the 777X. It really underscores the scale of investment and the long-term planning that goes into these airline operations.
