Inside of a Singapore Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner (Representative image - REUTERS/Randall Hill) Boeing may be at risk of losing a third of its 777X orders as the aircraft’s debut was. Etihad was one of the first airlines to order the Boeing 777X. Photo: Boeing 4. Cathay Pacific has the fourth-largest 777X order on Boeing’s books, but only just. The Hong Kong-based carrier is expecting 21 of the new aircraft. Cathay’s order was placed on December 20th, 2013. Lufthansa/ANA/Singapore Airlines. The Singapore flag-carrier is among several airlines which intend to use the Boeing 777X series of jetliners as the launchpad for new premium product, with that debut in turn tied to the delivery of its first 777-9 – which airline CEO Goh Choon Phong in late 2019 said he expected in 2022, at a time when Boeing was still aiming for a 2021 rollout.

Almost four years ago, Singapore Airlines agreed to buy 20 Boeing 777-9s. Better known as 777Xs, the then untested plane was promising big things. But a lot has happened in the time since. That’s seen the Singapore Airlines 777X order take a few twists and turns along the way.

Boeing’s newest long-haul aircraft is tantalizingly close to shuttling passengers around the globe. So far, 340 orders and commitments for the 777X are inked from an array of carriers, including All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Now, for the first time, Boeing is giving us a glimpse at what. Singapore Airlines' order for up to 77 aircraft on November 15, 1995 constituted the largest-ever wide-body aircraft purchase at the time. The purchase comprised 34 firm orders and 43 options for the 777-200ER, all to be powered Trent 800 series engines, and was valued at US$12.7 billion.

The order, made in February 2017, was a double deal. Singapore Airlines wanted some more Dreamliners as well. All up, the buy was valued at US$13.8 billion based on published list prices.

“We are continuing to invest for the future of the SIA Group,” said Singapore Airlines CEO, Mr Goh Choon Phong at the time.

Back then, the 777Xs were due to start landing in Singapore from the 2021/22 financial year.

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777X delays may be a blessing in disguise for Singapore Airlines

The trials and tribulations of the 777X are well-known. In 2011, Boeing anticipated the 777X to be flying by 2017/18. One year later, that was pushed back to 2019 amid claims of a parsimonious, risk-averse, and backpedaling culture at Boeing that was putting the brakes on the plane’s design and initial production.

As it turned out, the first test flight of Boeing’s 777X didn’t occur until January 2020. Boeing now hopes commercial production will begin next year, with the first deliveries slated to start in 2022.

Before the travel downturn, that wasn’t really the kind of news Singapore Airlines wanted to hear. But as 2020 grinds to an end, the delay may be a blessing in disguise for the airline (and other airlines who have ordered the 777X).

Earlier this year, before the downturn kicked in, Singapore Airlines was keeping the faith in the 777X. It was planning to use the new planes to replace older Boeing 777-300ERs and at the same time introduce the next generation of Singapore Airlines’ seats.

“We believe when we launch it, we will set an industry-standard… [Singapore Airlines will] be going out to our consumers and customers to get better ideas about what it is they really want in the next quantum leap of service and product,” said Goh Choon Phong earlier this year.

Travel downturn curbs Singapore Airlines’ ambitions

By the middle of 2020, the gloss was wearing off as the travel downturn radically curtailed Singapore Airlines flights and revenue.

“We continue to engage aircraft manufacturers to negotiate adjustments to the delivery stream of existing aircraft orders,” Singapore Airlines said in a media statement.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 300er

While demand remains patchy, Singapore Airlines is now cautiously optimistic there is some light on the horizon. It says passengers are becoming more confident about traveling as border restrictions ease and a vaccine appears to be around the corner.

Singapore Airlines 777x Delivery

Singapore Airlines 777x Seat Map

But Singapore Airlines doesn’t think passenger demand will return to 2019 levels before 2024. With that in mind, it has quietly shelved plans to use the 777X to rollout new seats in its premium cabins.

Singapore Airlines 777 300er

The move was hardly a surprise. In a cash-constrained environment, spending huge amounts of money installing new seats is unlikely to be a priority at any airline right now.

Boeing 777x Plane

But Singapore Airlines is holding firm on its 777X order. Boeing’s order book was recently updated, and the Singapore Airlines order sits among a handful of airlines who’ve ordered the plane. After a very protracted birth, Boeing promises the 777X will be the most efficient twin-engine commercial jet in the world with the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial airplane. For a long-haul airline feeling considerable financial pain, that could be the perfect plane.