Cathay 777x

Cathay Pacific (CX/CPA) has announced that it will defer deliveries of its brand-new Boeing 777-9X aircraft to “beyond 2025”, meaning the carrier will not receive the new 777X for at least the next five years.

Cathay 777x 777

The carrier was originally supposed to take delivery of its order for 21 aircraft between 2021 and 2024, however has decided to defer the orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting collapse in travel demand. This has been especially tough for Cathay, which had already faced significant issues pre-pandemic due to the Hong Kong protests, competition from other carriers and other business issues.

Boeing's newest aircraft, the Boeing 777X, flew for the first time in January after lengthy delays. It's the largest twin-engine jet in the world and Boeing's latest new aircraft to fly since the. Dec 20, 2013 MIAMI — On Friday morning, CPAS, Cathay Pacific Aircraft Services Limited, announced that they have officially ordered 21 Boeing 777-9X aircraft. The 777-X, which launched earlier this year at the Dubai Air Show, is the next generation followup to the hugely successful Boeing 777 program. Deliveries are set to begin in 2021 and wrap up in 2024.

Cathay 777x Flight

Apr 18, 2020 Cathay was Boeing’s first 777X customer in Asia and was expected to kickstart regional sales. Only All Nippon Airways and Singapore Airlines have since ordered the 777X. Operating the newer.

Some speculate that the carrier may cancel its entire order for the 777X in order to save money on delivery costs, and instead simply make do with its current fleet, which is still relatively young. Like other airlines, Cathay Pacific has been trying to defer deliveries of new aircraft orders. Fortunately for the airline, Boeing has been relatively cooperative in allowing deferrals during the pandemic, although some carriers are still scheduled to take delivery of new planes like the 777X on schedule.

Since the aircraft will not be delivered for at least another five years, this means that Cathay Pacific will be delaying its new first and business class products for at least five years as well. The carrier had originally planned to debut the new cabins on the 777-9, however, with the order deferred and no plans to retrofit existing aircraft, Cathay Pacific’s new premium cabins will be put on hold for now.

Cathay Pacific 777x Business Class

Featured image courtesy of Boeing