Cathay Pacific has become the first Asian airline to order Boeing’s newly launched 777X, placing an order for 21 777X-9s on Friday.
“The 777-9X promises us improved payload range capability and reduced operating costs, in addition to a significant reduction in environmental emissions,” said John Slosar, chief executive of Cathay Pacific Airways. “We think it will be an ideal fit for long-haul destinations in North America and Europe, in particular those routes where we carry high volumes of passengers and cargo each day.”
The Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific already operates 55 777s, including 38 777-300ERs.
Meanwhile, a 747-8F handed over to Cathay Pacific on December 18 was the first 747-8 delivered with the latest standard GEnx-2B engines, a key element in Boeing’s Performance Improvement Package (PIP) for the type to improve fuel efficiency by 1.8 per cent.
Boeing says the two other PIP components, flight management computer (FMC) software upgrades and reactivating the horizontal tail fuel tank on the 747-8 Intercontinental, are expected to enter service later in December and in early 2014, respectively.
