Boeing's ultra-long-haul 777-200LR is attracting strong interest from Emirates as the Dubai-based carrier prepares for its next round of expansion, writes Max Kingsley-Jones.
Dubai-based Emirates operates a dual Airbus A340 and 777 fleet and was launch operator for the ultra-long-haul A340-500 last year. It has also ordered the yet-to-be-built 777-200LR's bigger sister, the -300ER.
Until now the carrier has been looking to expand its A340-500 fleet and has been evaluating the extended-range, 380t maximum take-off weight (MTOW) version, but according to Emirates (airline) president Tim Clark, the 777-200LR is also being studied. "We are re-educating ourselves about the -200LR in light of performance improvements that Boeing found for the -300ER during flight testing, that should apply to the other model," says Clark.
Boeing revealed the increased range capability for the 777 in July, with the specification range of the 777-300ER being bolstered by more than 320km (175nm) to around 14,600km, and the range of the -200LR likely to increase to 17,500km (Flight International, 20-26 July). The -200LR is to enter flight testing next year, and go into service in early 2006.
Clark says that after examining the -200LR's improved performance Emirates may evaluate the aircraft against the increased weight A340-500 for its next order batch, to be finalised "sooner rather than later".
In its ultra-long-range battle with Boeing, Airbus is boosting the A340-500's range and payload by adopting the 380t MTOW of the A340-600 high-gross-weight variant, which enters service in 2006 with Emirates and Qatar Airways. Airbus quotes a range of 16,700km with 313 passengers for the 380t MTOW A340-500 - 700km more than the existing version.
Source: Flight International
