DUBAI- Boeing will need at least five years to resolve its current crisis, and the troubled US plane manufacturer should bear the costs for Emirates’ (EK) extensive retrofit program for its 777 wide-body jets due to delays in developing the newer 777X version, according to Emirates chief Tim Clark.
The ongoing delays in the new aircraft’s development have compelled Emirates to retrofit additional Boeing 777s, and the airline’s boss insists that Boeing should cover the expenses for this refurbishment.
Emirates Boeing 777X Delays
“We need our airplanes, we cannot face constant delays. We’ve got a business to run, and the bill for refurbishing all these airplanes should be put at Boeing’s door,” said Mr. Clark, president of Emirates, on Sunday at the 80th International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting in Dubai.
In May, Emirates announced it would fully refurbish an additional 28 Boeing 777 aircraft, expanding the original plan from 53 to 81 aircraft for a complete makeover, reported The National.
The Boeing 777-9 model, initially scheduled for delivery in 2025, is about five years behind schedule, and Emirates currently has “no visibility” on the latest delivery timeframe, according to Mr. Clark.
At the Dubai Airshow in November, Emirates confirmed firm orders for 55 additional Boeing 777-9s and 35 Boeing 777-8s. Emirates’ 777X order book now totals 205 jets, making it the largest buyer of Boeing wide-body aircraft.
However, Boeing will require five years to resolve the issues stemming from its current safety and quality crisis before it can meet the production demands of new and existing customers, according to the Emirates Airline chief.
More Delays
“Boeing needs to reflect on what went wrong over the last 10 to 15 years and figure out how to fix it,” he said. “They need to return to their previous standards. If they do that, the entire process is salvageable and fixable, and we can get things back to where they need to be. How long will that take? I think we’re looking at a five-year hiatus.”
Mr. Clark, an aviation industry veteran and head of an airline that is a major buyer of Boeing and Airbus wide-body aircraft, frequently comments on performance issues at both manufacturers, which supply planes for the long-haul routes Emirates specializes in.
He mentioned that he is scheduled to meet with Stephanie Pope in “the next day or so” during the IATA annual meeting, which is being held in Dubai for the first time from June 2 to June 4.
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