Emirates President Sir Tim Clark has confirmed that the airline will not accept the first 10 production Boeing 777X aircraft, citing concerns that the early-built jets no longer meet the carrier’s standards following years of programme delays.
Clark said the aircraft, which were manufactured years ago and now require extensive modifications due to changes made during the certification process, are not suitable for delivery in their current condition.
Suggesting Boeing may need to find another buyer for the aircraft, Clark joked, “Heinz might be interested—for making baked bean cans.”
The remarks once again highlighted tensions between Emirates and Boeing over the prolonged delays to the 777X programme.
Emirates has a total of 270 Boeing 777X aircraft on order, with deliveries of its first 777-9s expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027. Clark reiterated his criticism of the programme’s delays and confirmed that the airline will not accept aircraft from the initial production batch.
