Boeing has actually learned little-to-nothing from Airbus' weak/now-defunct attempt to sell an aircraft solely on its range ability (i.e., the A340-200)

What many airlines aspire to nowadays is the tradeoff between payload and range. EK is the quintessential example of this... they absolutely refuse to take a payload hit to their extremely profitable 777 runs (remember, this is the airline that crams 434 people into a 777!) and as a result of that plus the relatively weak powerplants chosen for their 772ERs; EK's 777s cannot cover the distance nonstop from DXB to the USA year-round off of DXB's runways. The 772LR would rectify that problem as they can be set to fly the same max range of a high-powered 772ER (8,860mi) but with the average weight of 22 additional passengers and 30,000lbs.... AND still get off the runway in comparable distance! THAT's what Boeing should be selling the 772LR on, NOT just 10,100mi range! They lost the EK order to the A345 for now; but PK, QR, et al are all in the running still. QF? I doubt it.

If anything, DL should get the 772LR.... hence my screenname. But that'll never happen either... DL is a Trent operator, they have 7 outstanding orders as is, and their M11s are gonna remain for quite a few more years to come

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Stronger than Airbus, Faster than Airbus, Bigger than Airbus... BETTER than Airbus!