Cathay Pacific is one of many airlines. The Boeing 777X – specifically the 777-9 model (sometimes called the 777-9X) – as the future flagship for long-haul flights.
Cathay is still a few years away from delivering its first 777-9, but we’re bringing you the latest news on Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777X, including plans for an all-new 777X First Class. and business class.
Cathay Pacific Boeing 777X order and delivery
Cathay Pacific has 21 Boeing 777-9 jetliners on order. Valued at more than US$7 billion at list price, deliveries are expected to initially begin in 2021 and continue through 2024.
However, a series of production delays in Boeing’s 777X program (which covers the larger 777-9 and the smaller but longer-range 777-8) has pushed the debut of the 777-9 to 2024, with many airlines I am still having trouble.
Faced with longer-than-expected wait times, coupled with the economic impact of Covid-19 and Hong Kong’s extended border closure, Cathay Pacific Group Chairman Patrick Healy announced in October 2020 that “delivery of 777-9 aircraft will be delayed until 2025 or later.”
The Boeing 777-9 will replace the 777-300ER (pictured) as Cathay’s flagship.
Even if Cathay got the key beginning Applying the previous three-year delivery period for all 21 777Xs sometime in 2026, the final 777-9 will arrive in Hong Kong hangars at the end of the decade.
But Cathay faces similar challenges as other airlines that have relied on Boeing 777-9s to launch their next generation of first and business class. The risk that your current product lags behind in a constantly competitive marketplace.
Lufthansa, the launch customer for the Boeing 777-9, has decided it cannot wait any longer and will instead begin flying the newest Allegris in first and business class on Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-9 jets.
“When it comes to thinking, planning and working, it’s definitely something we have in mind,” confirms Vivian Lo, Cathay General Manager of Customer Experience & Design.
He added that Cathay’s current A350 business class “despite the lack of doors, it feels very private due to its 3D shape, and I think it’s still very good among products without doors. ”
“Whether or not you think doors matter, this is something we’re looking at and will continue to look at,” says Lo. Executive Travelerbefore adding the protected “but no comments for now”.
Cathay Pacific Boeing 777X First Class
Cathay Pacific confirmed in mid-2018 that the Boeing 777-9 will be an all-new First Class aircraft.
It will replace the company’s current Boeing 777-300ER First Class, which debuted in 2007 and will be nearly 20 years old by the time the first Cathay 777x enters service (although the 777-300ER First Suite is 2013 and 2017, followed by “Software” Refresh from late 2019).
First Class on Cathay Pacific’s iconic and beloved Boeing 777.
Cathay Pacific is believed to have mocked up a range of mock-ups, from high-walled private havens with sliding doors to the more open design of today’s first-class suites.
“We are building models and testing different concepts, but we have not made a final decision yet,” Cathay’s then-CEO Rupert Hogg said. Executive Traveler “We spend a lot of time designing and testing our products.”
Asked whether Cathay is leaning toward sliding doors or open suites, Hogg said, “That’s the current debate. I won’t say which side of that debate I’m on, but it’s largely not over yet. Because there is no,” he said.
Will Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777-9 First Class keep this open design or move to suites with walls and doors?
about some The Cathay 777x will have six first-class cabins, which is the same, more, or less than the Boeing 777-300ER, and looking at demand trends suggests, “We are working on that. Yes,” Hogg said at the time.
“First class demand falls into three segments,” he explained. “The corporate first class market as a whole is shrinking as the number of companies offering first class travel is declining.”
“There is a personal demand for first class by very wealthy individuals, that market is very booming, and first class is also part of many people’s rewards programs.”
“So it’s important to strike the right balance in how many seats we have in all these segments.”
Demand has undoubtedly changed under the Covid cloud, but industry forecasts from Airbus, Boeing, KPMG, McKinsey and others predict travel to return to 2019 levels in 2024-2025. Begin deliveries of 777-9 jets.
Cathay Pacific Boeing 777X business class
The Boeing 777-9 was also intended to serve as the starting point for a new business class experience.
Cathay Pacific’s newest business class seats on the Airbus A350 are an improved version of the original Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 design from 2011 (codenamed FB2).
The angled window-facing seating layout of Cathay’s long-haul business class is popular with high-flyers.
But after 10+ years in the sky, is it time to continue? evolution This seat – the third generation of the popular platform – or the sweeping revolution What is your Cathay business class experience?
How much does Cathay plan to change from its current 10-year-old business class design?
In recent years, Cathay Pacific has been known to “deeply evaluate” several concepts, including a replacement for this angled seating layout with a forward-facing orientation. rice field. But nothing substantive has surfaced.
JPA Design is developing Cathay’s 777X cabin
what we do do We know that Cathay 777X’s first-class suite and business-class seat development is underway, and it looks like the reputable company JPA Design is behind the next-generation product.
JPA’s relationship with Cathay Pacific dates back to Cathay Pacific’s 2011 Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 business class.
JPA formed Cathay’s second generation flatbed business class.
The acclaimed company was also behind Cathay’s newest Airbus A321neo Regional Business Class..
Cathay’s A321neo’s newest business class seats have been customized by JPA Design.
JPA’s airline portfolio again It includes first and business class on Japan Airlines’ Boeing 777s, but its most high-profile airline job is Singapore Airlines, a stable customer.
This has ranged from first class on Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 747 to first and business class upgrades on its Boeing 777 in 2013…
Singapore Airlines 2013 Boeing 777 First Class and Business Class.
…and both 2007 and 2017 iterations of SQ’s Airbus A380 Superjumbo Business Class.
Super Jumbo Business Class: Singapore Airlines’ 2007 and 2017 offerings have been developed by JPA Design.
In other words, JPA has plenty of credit when it comes to premium cabins – and JPA website page One of the company’s current “secret” projects is named “Cathay Pacific – Future Aircraft Cabin”.
Under the headline “Creating the future of the in-flight experience for Cathay Pacific,” Page confirms, “We have partnered with Cathay Pacific to design and develop the next generation of aircraft cabin interiors.”
This marks an exhaustive effort that will likely also see Cathay’s new 777X versions of premium economy and economy seats.
In fact, much of the JPA’s airline work goes beyond “just” the seat and encompasses the interior design of the entire aircraft, allowing airlines to develop their own aesthetics and passenger-friendly, brand-matching experiences within each travel class. We strive to create a holistic environment. .
Such work is approved several years before the actual aircraft is delivered, which also coincides with Cathay’s Boeing 777X delivery schedule.
