Boeing has a delightful range of different aircraft available for airlines. If a carrier is just starting out, small in size, or needs aircraft for shorter routes, the popular 737 series springs to mind. If a company is looking for long-range and plenty of capacity, perhaps a Boeing 777 is what is required. However, what about the 787 Dreamliner? It is evidently an excellent plane and useful in mid-markets, such as long-haul routes with less demand. Yet is it a better choice for airlines than the upcoming 777X?
How will we be comparing these two aircraft?
Let us imagine we are a new airline that has $1 billion from investors to acquire Boeing aircraft, which plane would we choose? Naturally, we are going to be looking for the aircraft that can give us the most return on our dollars and be the most profitable on our routes. While some of these jets might present a better customer experience, this is highly subjective at this point in time and could be speculative. The 777X is not yet flying and we can only assume. Therefore, this factor should be ignored for this comparison.
Which 787 vs. 777X are we looking at?
Both these two aircraft types have different versions, with the smallest 787-8 handing far fewer passengers than biggest 777-9. Naturally, it would not make sense to just pick two and place them head to head. So, we will look at each factor and decide which is more advantageous.
Below is a list of each aircraft and their key specifications in a two-class setting.
787-8
Length: 57 m (186 ft)
Span: 60 m (197 ft)
MTOW: 227.95 t
Passengers: 248
Range: 7,305 NM (13,530 km)
Engine: GEnx-1B / Trent 1000
List price: $239 million
787-9
Length: 63 m (206 ft)
Span: 60 m (197 ft)
MTOW: 254 t
Passengers: 296
Range: 7,530 NM (13,950 km)
Engine: GEnx-1B / Trent 1000
List price: $281.6 million
787-10
Length: 68 m (224 ft)
Span: 60 m (197 ft)
MTOW: 254 t
Passengers: 336
Range: 6,345 NM (11,750 km)
Engine: GEnx-1B / Trent 1000
List price: $325.8 million
777-8
Length: 69.79 m (229 ft)
Span: Extended – 7.75 m (235 ft, 5 in) / On ground – 64.82 m (212 feet, 8 in)
MTOW: 351.5 t
Passengers: 384
Range: 8,730 NM (16,170 km)
Engine: GE9X
List price: $410.2 million
777-9
Length: 76.72 m (251 ft, 9 in)
Span: Extended – 7.75 m (235 ft, 5 in) / On ground – 64.82 m (212 feet, 8 in)
MTOW: 351.5 t
Passengers: 426
Range: 7,285 NM (13,500 km)
Engine: GE9X
List price: $442.2 million
Passengers
Naturally, the bigger aircraft will carry the largest amount of passengers. However, what is interesting is the difference between the 787-10 and the 777-8. Only 48 additional passengers separate these two aircraft, and they are almost the same size (just with bigger wings on the 777X). With a list price of $84.2 million more than the 787, the 777X is hardly a massive improvement for just 48 passengers (that is $1.9 million for each additional passenger paid over the lifetime of the jet).
As all airlines know, a bigger jet is more challenging to fill up than a smaller aircraft. A larger 777-9 might be more costly to operate if not all the seats are sold, or if seasonal demand disappears.
If large capacity is an airline’s goal, then the 777-9 is your best bet. However, if a company is looking for a better deal and doesn’t mind a slight compromise, then the 787-10 is actually more profitable. That is if the carrier is not flying very far…
Range
The 787-9 has excellent range, but the 777-8 smokes it by an extra 1,200 NM. This is a massive difference if you are looking at long-haul operations. The fact that an operator would also get an extra just under 100 passengers on board can make or break the profitability of a long route.
That extra 1,200 NM could offer a significant bonus when it comes ti long-haul trips across the globe. Carriers focusing on direct services across the continents may have their mouths watering at this additional range.
Nonetheless, the 787 Dreamliner series comes close with their smaller aircraft, especially with the balanced attributes of the 787-9 variant. Sure it’s not as far, but if am airline does not need those extra 1,2000 NM then why pay extra?
Recent progress
It was initially hoped that the 777X would join airlines as early as next year. However, amid the global health crisis the it is now expected that the first delivery will happen in 2022.
Nonetheless, even though there is a delay to service entry, there has been promising progress in the last few months. For instance, in September, it was confirmed that GE Aviation attained FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification for its GE9X engine. This model is the most fuel-efficient jet engine that the company has ever produced. With its placement on the 777X, there are exciting possibilities.
Here are the key specifications of the GE9X engine:
- Overall pressure ratio: 60:1
- Thrust: 110,000lbf (490kN)
- High-pressure compressor ratio: 27:1
- Front fan diameter: 134 inches (3.4 meters)
- Fan blades: 16 (carbon fiber composite)
- Bypass ratio: 10:1
Additionally, in fall, a 777X took a 10-hour trip across the United States. It departed Arizona and flew across 16 other states in the country before returning. This rigorous testing is rebuilding the buzz surrounding the aircraft type.
What’s the verdict?
If we had to pick an overall winner, we would usually be leaning towards the 787 series. If there is a 787 variant that can perform the job of a 777 (apart from sheer capacity and extreme range) for a cheaper buy price and less expensive running costs, then why spend more?
However, in the last year, there has been significant progress in the 777X program. The recent updates show that the plane could be a revolutionary introduction in the commercial aviation industry.
Ultimately, the deciding factors come down to the needs of the individual airlines. Different operators have different requirements. Therefore, those looking to go the extra distance may not even question the decision about which one to take on if they had to choose between the two. However, other firms may be content on getting on the current crop of Boeing’s widebodies.
We have to wait and see
Boeing highlights that the 777X will provide 10% lower fuel use and emissions and 10% lower operating costs than its competition. The company is also excited about the plane’s roomy, wide cabin. It even highlights that it has new custom architecture and innovations from the 787. Therefore, the jet will undoubtedly have inspirations from the trusted Dreamliner.
Altogether, the 777X is set to make a considerable impact in the market when it arrives to airlines from 2022. After its introduction, there could be a more unmistakable winner when it comes to the application of two aircraft types.
Which aircraft do you think is better out of the Boeing 777X and 787 Dreamliner? What are you expecting from the future widebody type? Let us know what you think of the two aircraft in the comment section.