Emirates Airline has been forced to make major adjustments to its fleet renewal strategy following the latest delay in Boeing’s 777X program. The airline’s president, Sir Tim Clark, described Boeing’s decision to push certification to late 2026 and delay deliveries to 2027 as “troubling.” Clark criticized Boeing for failing to inform Emirates in advance, stating that despite meeting Boeing executives in New York and Seattle just weeks prior, the airline only learned of the delay through a press release.
Emirates is the largest customer of the 777X program. Its initial 2013 order of 150 aircraft has since grown to 205 units. Deliveries, originally scheduled for 2020, have been repeatedly postponed, now slipping to 2027. The prolonged delay even led to the suspension of the aircraft’s cabin design work last year. Clark noted that the existing cabin layouts are now outdated and will need to be completely reworked.
The delay is having a direct operational impact on Emirates. The carrier’s plan to replace its aging A380 and 777-300ER fleet with the new 777X models has stalled, prompting Emirates to order Airbus A350-900s to fill the gap. However, this is seen as a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution. Clark also questioned the clarity of Boeing’s new timeline, saying:
“They say deliveries will be in 2027 — but which quarter? The first? The last? We still don’t know.”
Boeing’s continued uncertainty, he said, makes it increasingly difficult for Emirates to plan ahead.
Addressing the compensation issue, Clark emphasized that Emirates’ main priority is not monetary reimbursement but receiving the aircraft it ordered. Discussions on damages will take place, but he made it clear that getting the planes into service as soon as possible remains the company’s key concern. Whether Boeing will finally adhere to its new schedule still remains uncertain.
