Emirates Blasts Boeing Over New 777X Delays; Warns that Serious Conversations Will Happen

Patience is running out among airlines as Boeing recently announced yet another delay in a highly anticipated aircraft delivery. The 777X widebody aircraft delivery has been pushed back to 2026 and the Emirates President openly wasn't willing to come to these new terms.

Emirates Enraged

Long-time President of Emirates Sir Tim Clark wasn't shy to show his disgust in an email to journalists regarding another Boeing delay. The first Boeing 777X was originally slated to be delivered in 2020, but a series of failed tests and cost overruns have subverted these plans for multiple years. Monday morning, Clark had these interesting comments to say via email to members of the media:

"Emirates has had to make significant and highly expensive amendments to our fleet programmes as a result of Boeing’s multiple contractual shortfalls and we will be having a serious conversation with them over the next couple of months.”

Clark further went to give his analysis on Boeing's new projections for aircraft production:

"I fail to see how Boeing can make any meaningful forecasts of delivery dates," he added.
 

Originally, Emirates had 150 777X jets on order from Boeing, but it remains to be seen if the order will be changed or cancelled.

In light of Boeing's ongoing aircraft delays, Emirates had been purchasing used Airbus A380s from owners and lessees and have set up its own maintenance programs to keep them all in working order for the time being. The A380 first entered service back in 2007 and had since been discontinued from production in 2021.

Boeing's Woes Continue

The Virginia-based plane manufacturer had been suffering from financial losses, workforce shortages, and production problems, putting the company's future in a troubled state.

• In 2018 and 2019, 737 Max 8 jets crashed, killing hundreds of people aboard each.
• In 2022, a whistleblower admitted that Boeing made shortcuts when producing the 787 Dreamliner, with the aircraft failing to meet certification, causing more delays and financial losses.
• On January 5 of this year, a door plug faltered on a Boeing 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight. This mishap cost Boeing $160 million. 
• These ongoing production mishaps and shortcuts have also tarnished employee morale at the company, with a union of 33,000 members currently on strike with the company until an agreement can be reached.
• Last month, a security guard contracted by Boeing brandished a gun on protesting workers. 
• And last Friday, Boeing announced 17,000 employees will be laid off due to cost-cutting, but no timeline was laid out. The company also announced the halt of the 767 production, which did no favors to please union workers.

Agency Partners analyst Nick Cunningham wasn't in favor of the announced cuts. "The trick will be not losing the 10% of people you want to keep, which is even more important than usual in the post pandemic skill shortage environment," he said.

With Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC making waves in many parts of the world, competition is certainly adding fuel to Boeing's fire. It remains to be seen if Boeing can reach a deal with its union in the near future so production can get back on track.