Emirates is likely to be #1, primarily due to the size of their order. But the whole 'launch customer' thing is a bit confusing, LH has also claimed to be launch customer by dint of being first airline to place an order (way back in 2013, can you believe it!), while 'launch customer' status has also been cited by QR (most notably by former CEO Akbar Al Baker). I'd put my money on the batting order being EK, LH, QR.

Boeing's problems are only getting worse and corrupt, the 777X has serious cracks, at this point I'm not surprised if it takes up to 2030.

Maybe the 777X for CX would arrive when the a350s have began getting next generation products, and both would share the same hard product

Has it been confirmed that 777-9 will have the same business class and premium economy seats as those on retrofitted 777-300ER?

Not the SQ F seats

Do CX need to seek for lessor approval to get Aria Suites installed on the leased B777-300ER and A350-900 and A350-1000 ?

so, it�s strongly recommended CX should buy more A350-1000 with Halo first class and Aria Suites, in 4 class config

That's a nice 'recommendation' but CX is already very capex-heavy on its future fleet, and to my knowledge it has no 'options' on the books � which means Cathay would need to place a new order (expensive) and stand in line behind the many other airlines waiting for A350 deliveries. So as nice as it might be to see four-class A350-1000s, even if Cathay inked an order right now those planes would be many years away. The airline is pretty much locked into its 777 fleet plan, at least for now, and obviously everyone's hoping the 777-9 finally begins commercial flights in late 2025.

Could that change? Well look, if it got to breaking point and a bunch of airlines walked away from their 777-9 orders (with a refund + interest from Boeing!), that'd see a massive crunch on A350 orders as the obvious (only) real replacement, and Airbus can't just magik up a similarly massive increase in production, so we're back to long l-o-n-g delays. But let's not worry about any of that for now, and see how things develop in Boeing-land.

CX has barely any deliveries over the next 3 years


Their fleet will likely be smaller in early 2026 than 2019 CX plus KA


They could lease more planes if they were serious about building the HKG hub , but i guess they will just cede market share as the 3rd runway opens .

Should CX ask for leasing back the B777-300ER now in service with QR on HKG routes (A7-BOA-D, A7-BOH, A7-BOI) and NZ (ZK-OKU-W) ?

CX is adding a ton of long haul frequencies soon which they're already extremely dominant in. I think due to lack of planes it's unlikely Cathay can further add flights until the B777X arrives which would take too long. Even if they order more a350 it would take at least 4 years.

It's a shame as with so many western airlines leaving china recently, they could easily get even more market share, and CX has better products than the mainland Chinese airlines.


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Can CX order some B787-9 with Aria Suites and Halo first class to supplement the insufficiency of B777-300ER ?

B789 order book is also 500+ frames deep, so it'll need CX to pay specific customers for slots to get them anytime soon

why don�t CX just extend the lease of the 777-300ER? There are 8 leaving the fleet in 2024-2026.

the training cost, not to mention the B787 problems and narrow width, is going to be the last thing CX would order. they already said no with the A330neo order. maybe more A350s is the only way out.

I like cathay not having 787s, as they are way too common around the world

Just curious: how deep is the A350 order book?