June 2005 
Volume 04, Issue 2 
Commercial Airplanes
 

Decade of success

BY MARC BIRTEL

Ten years ago this month, United Airlines flew the first revenue flight with a Boeing 777 from London to Washington, D.C., marking the beginning of a new era in commercial aviation.

Since then, the 777 has flown more than two million revenue flights and approximately 500 million passengers. The fleet has an impressive schedule-reliability rate of 99.3 percent, best in its class and unprecedented for an airplane of the 777's size and complexity. More than 35 airlines and leasing companies have placed 680 orders for the 777, giving the 777 family more than 60 percent of its market. To date, more than 515 airplanes have been delivered.

Rock-solid 1st year for 777-300ER

Rock-solid 1st year for 777-300ER

The Boeing 777-300ER celebrated its first year of revenue service last month, reinforcing the 777's record of unsurpassed widebody reliability and efficiency.

The technologically advanced 777-300ER, the world's largest long-range twin-engine jet, flew more than 4,100 flights and 32,000 hours during its first year. That performance led to a 99.2 percent average schedule reliability rate. This figure surpassed previous 777 model introductions and is in line with the 99.3 percent overall rate for the 777 family.

Executives at Air France, currently the largest 777-300ER operator, praised the airplane's performance.

"The 777-300ER has met our ambitious requirements in delivering expected performance, reliability and efficiency," said Pierre Vellay, Air France senior vice president, new aircraft and corporate fleet planning. "It has proven itself as a passenger-pleasing money maker."

—Marc Birtel
Among the recent commitments: Air Canada and Air India in April announced commitments that collectively included orders for 33 777s, and purchase rights and options for an additional 26 airplanes; and Air France last month ordered five Boeing 777 Freighters, with options to buy three more.

"After 10 years in service, this remarkable airplane speaks for itself as the preferred product of airlines and passengers alike," said Lars Andersen, vice president and program manager, 777 program.

By working together with airline customers to align the product with their needs, Boeing has evolved the 777 family by increasing size, range and payload capability. The family's six models include the best-selling 777-200ER (Extended Range) and the new 777-300ER, which deliver long-range capability and twin-
engine economics (see box below).

Building on the 777's successful performance, Boeing is expanding the 777 family to deliver more value to the world's airlines.

The newest 777, the 777-200LR (Longer Range) Worldliner, is currently in flight test. The 777-200LR, the world's longest-range commercial airliner, is capable of connecting virtually any two cities in the world nonstop. One of the two flight-test airplanes will be on static display at the Paris Air Show this month. The first 777-200LR is scheduled for delivery to Pakistan International Airlines in January.

Also, Boeing Commercial Airplanes launched the 777 Freighter program with Air France's order for this airplane, which will be the world's largest twin-engine freighter. Representatives of the program said customer interest has been high, reflecting the freighter's range and payload capability.

marc.r.birtel@boeing.com

 
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