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Date: 2025-01-06 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00027710
AIRLINES / AIRCRAFT
CATHAY PACIFIC / BOEING 777X

WingedWorld: Cathay Pacific CEO Exposed
Boeing 777X HUGE Problem! Here's Why


Original article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkbJbjw_i2g
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
I have been interested in engineering ... in technology ... since I was about 8 years old.

It is fascinating to track technical progress from that time ... 1948 ... to the present time, more than 70 years later.

My first commercial flight was from London to the Channel Islands in 1959 when I was a student. The aircraft was a piston engined Douglas DC3 probably built pre-WWII but still flying.

The return flight was more modern in a prop-jet aircraft ... I am not sure the type, but maybe it was an early Vickers Viscount.

A year later the Cambridge Canada Club chartered two Boeing 707s from Air France to fly a planeload of University students from London to New York in early June and back New York to London in mid-September. At that time Americans were vacationing in Europe because they had the money, but Europeans did not. Airlines were flying empty planes Westward at the beginning of the summer seasoin and then doing the reverse at the end of the season. I think I paid 70 pounds sterling for my return fare. We were not allowed to work in the USA, but we had permission to work and be paid in Canada.

That was a superb summer, and I did almost the same a year later.

Those flights on Air France Boeing 707s marked the beginning of an adult lifetime with a lot of air travel during which time aircraft technology got more and more amazing. My travels ended early in the new century after a series of bad experiences in different parts of the world ... but that has nothing to do with aircraft and their technical progress over the years!

I am not sure what is the most interesting aspect of aircraft and flight. I have always had an interest in engineering and technology ... but also management and geography. Maybe it is the progress of aircaft engines that excites me most ... going back to the engineering department lab at Cambridge where a very early Frank Whittle jet engine was on display

The issues with the latest Boeing 777X seem to be more about management problems than resolving purely technical matters. At a technical level the latest iteration of the 777 series is a winner, but the bureaucratic snafus seem to be never-ending. I have been reading a lot about a variety of issues at both Boeing and Airbus but am also somewhat sceptical about the veracity of the stories that are being circulated!
Peter Burgess
Cathay Pacific CEO Exposed Boeing 777X HUGE Problem! Here's Why

WingedWorld

38.9K subscribers

Nov 30, 2024

When Boeing unveiled the 777X, it promised an aircraft that would redefine long-haul travel—an engineering marvel with unmatched range, fuel efficiency, and passenger comfort. Airlines worldwide, including Cathay Pacific, saw the 777X as the answer to the future of global aviation.

But, fast forward to today, and Cathay’s CEO has publicly called out Boeing, shedding light on the 777X’s missed deadlines and technical setbacks that have left the industry frustrated.

What went wrong with Boeing's promises? And how are these delays impacting one of Asia’s top airlines? Let’s dive into the full story.

Transcript
  • 0:00
  • when Boeing unveiled the triple
  • 7x it promised an aircraft that would
  • redefine L Hall travel an engineering
  • Marvel with unmatched range fuel
  • efficiency and passenger Comfort
  • Airlines worldwide including cath
  • Pacific saw the 7x as the answer to the
  • future of global Aviation but fast
  • forward to today and cath's CEO has
  • publicly called out Boeing shedding
  • light on the tri 7x's missed deadlines
  • and Technical setbacks that have left
  • the industry
  • frustrated what went wrong with Boeing's
  • promises and how are these delays
  • impacting one of Asia's top
  • airlines let's dive into the full story
  • back in 2013 Boeing unveiled its Marvel
  • the tri 7 x it wasn't just any aircraft
  • it was a statement from Boeing designed

  • 1:00
  • to redefine Long Hall travel featuring
  • advancements like foldable wing tips
  • Cutting Edge engines and improved fuel
  • efficiency the trip 7x promised a
  • transformative experience for Airlines
  • and passengers for C Pacific this
  • aircraft represented the ideal
  • replacement for its aging Fleet
  • providing extended range and capacity to
  • handle Long Hall routes more effectively
  • the relationship between cath Pacific
  • and Boeing has a storied past cath has
  • been a loyal Boeing customer for decades
  • integrating numerous Boeing models into
  • its Fleet including the
  • 747 7 and 787
  • Dreamliner historically cath Pacific and
  • Boeing have collaborated closely with
  • Kath playing a significant role in the
  • launch of Boeing's earlier

  • 2:00
  • models the airlines Fleet prominently
  • features Boeing aircraft making cath one
  • of Boeing's major International
  • customers the trip 7 in particular had
  • been a Cornerstone of cath's Fleet known
  • for its reliability and deficiency which
  • is why the tri 7 x was eagerly
  • anticipated as a natural
  • successor cath had big plans for the
  • trip 7 x envision it as the flagship of
  • its Fleet complete with luxurious first
  • class suits to cater to an elevated
  • passenger
  • experience the delivery dates were set
  • for
  • 2025 aligning perfectly with cath's
  • vision of Fleet renewal this would
  • enhance their overall expansion strategy
  • it includes orders for six Airbus a 350f
  • Freighters scheduled to arrive after

  • 3:01
  • 2026 along with the recent acquisition
  • of 30 Airbus a 33900 aircraft which also
  • come with options for additional
  • purchases these purchases showcased
  • cath's confidence in its growth strategy
  • which aimed to maintain a Competitive
  • Edge in the Long Haul Market however as
  • the anticipation for the tri 7 x reached
  • its peak delivery dates began to slip
  • production challenges and Technical
  • setbacks started to impact Boeing's
  • original timelines creating a wave of
  • uncertainty among its Airline customers
  • for CA each delay represented a growing
  • issue forcing the airline to reconsider
  • its strategic plans and adjust
  • expectations for its new flagship model
  • this historical partnership made the tri
  • 7 X delays even more impactful as cath

  • 4:04
  • Pacific had trusted Boeing to deliver on
  • its promises based on their longstanding
  • relationship as the timeline extended
  • Beyond its initial promises frustrations
  • mounted across the aviation industry for
  • cath a whose CEO had high hopes for the
  • aircraft's role in the airlines future
  • the delays signal not just operation
  • ational challenges but also potential
  • Financial
  • strain cath's Executives began
  • pressuring Boeing for transparency
  • seeking clear answers on how long the
  • delays would continue and what the final
  • delivery schedule might look like what
  • went wrong fast forward to the present
  • the excitement that once surrounded the
  • Boeing 7x has been replaced by growing
  • frustration

  • 5:00
  • the delays that started as minor
  • inconveniences stretched into years
  • causing significant
  • disruptions C Pacific has been leading
  • the charge in voicing these
  • frustrations initially slated for
  • delivery in 2021 the tri 7x's timeline
  • has repeatedly slipped and Industry
  • insiders now doubt it will arrive before
  • the mid
  • 2020s for cath Pacific these delays are
  • more than just a matter of waiting they
  • represent a Cascade of operational
  • challenges and strategic
  • headaches cath's leadership has publicly
  • expressed that each delay throws a
  • wrench into their long-term strategic
  • planning every delay means increased
  • operational costs extended service for
  • older less efficient models and
  • complications in Fleet

  • 6:00
  • management cath Pacific aims to receive
  • all its ordered aircraft on
  • schedule however when delays occur it
  • leads to disappointment for the
  • airline Macwan the chief operations and
  • Service delivery officer noted this
  • sentiment particularly in light of the
  • recent setbacks in the trip 7x program
  • cath Pacific is not alone in this
  • frustration other major airlines like
  • Emirates and Luft hanza have also voiced
  • their concerns over the delayed 7x
  • deliveries this highlights the broader
  • industry impact of Boeing setbacks and
  • the shared frustration among its
  • customers these delays are not merely
  • about adjusting his schedules they are
  • about the technical issues that Boeing
  • faces as the industry watches and waits
  • one question looms like large what

  • 7:01
  • exactly are these challenges that are
  • hindering the delivery of the triple 7x
  • as promised let's start with the engines
  • the G9 X engines are not just any
  • engines they're the world's largest and
  • most powerful commercial turbo fans
  • promising unprecedented fuel efficiency
  • and lower emissions however the pursuit
  • of perfection has revealed unforeseen
  • performance issues recently cracks were
  • discovered on the engine mounts of
  • multiple test
  • aircraft this critical issue led to the
  • grounding of FAA certification flights
  • necessitating immediate resolutions to
  • ensure the structural integrity and
  • safety of the
  • aircraft then we have the foldable wing
  • tips this ingenious design was meant to
  • allow the tri 7X to fit into existing

  • 8:01
  • airport Gates despite its larger
  • wingspan while the concept is
  • groundbreaking the execution has
  • encountered regulatory hurdles the
  • folding mechanism introduced new
  • complexities that required extensive
  • scrutiny from Aviation
  • authorities each additional test and
  • Regulatory review has added months to
  • the certification
  • process these concerns show the broader
  • development chall Alles Boeing has faced
  • integrating new technologies and
  • materials into the tri 7 x has proven
  • more complex than anticipated and has
  • caused significant delays requiring
  • extensive additional testing and
  • modifications the flight test program
  • itself has also faced significant
  • setbacks there have been multiple pauses
  • and work stoppages further delaying the
  • certification process and pushing back
  • the timeline for the first deliveries

  • 9:02
  • such interruptions disrupt not just the
  • testing schedule but also the momentum
  • needed to meet production goals adding
  • to these complications is an ongoing
  • labor strike that has impacted the
  • progress of the trip 7x program this
  • strike has resulted in work stoppages
  • exacerbating delays in both development
  • and testing phases with a Workforce that
  • has been stretched thin each pause in
  • work significantly hampers Boeing's
  • ability to meet its
  • objectives Financial constraints are yet
  • another layer to this challenging
  • landscape Boeing is grappling with
  • financial difficulties that have
  • affected its capacity to invest in the
  • resources and Workforce necessary to
  • keep the program on
  • track the company has announced
  • Workforce reductions and other cost
  • cutting measures which only add pressure

  • 10:00
  • to an already beleaguered
  • project meanwhile another intriguing
  • development has been unfolding in the
  • aviation World recently there have been
  • reports indicating an increasing number
  • of flight diversions due to unpleasant
  • odors in the cabin which passengers have
  • described as similar to chlorine or
  • other foul
  • smells while Airlines often use
  • signature frame fragrances to enhance
  • the onboard experience some flights have
  • encountered unidentified odors leading
  • to significant
  • discomfort in response to these issues
  • flight Crews may decide to divert or
  • return the aircraft to ensure passenger
  • safety for instance on September 29 an
  • EasyJet flight from London Gatwick to
  • Bordeaux had to return shortly after
  • takeoff due to smoke and fumes detected

  • 11:00
  • in the cockpit passengers were rebooked
  • on a later flight after this incident
  • the odors can stem from various sources
  • including condensation issues within the
  • aircraft's heating and cooling systems
  • or more serious mechanical issues
  • involving engine oil or hydraulic fluids
  • for Airlines like cath Pacific these
  • delays aren't just a matter of waiting
  • they Translate to real world
  • consequences extended service for older
  • less efficient models increased
  • maintenance costs and disrupted
  • strategic plans each delay erodes
  • confidence and forces Airlines to adapt
  • in ways they hadn't
  • anticipated as the aviation World
  • grapples with these challenges Boeing's
  • delays and recent rise in cabanot
  • incidents paint a picture of an industry
  • under pressure striving to meet the high

  • 12:01
  • standards of safety and reliability
  • expected by passengers and Regulators
  • alike in the wake of the Boeing 7x
  • delays cath Pacific has had to make
  • significant adjustments to its Fleet
  • strategy the airline had planned to
  • integrate the tri 7x into its operations
  • expecting to leverage the new aircraft's
  • Advanced features for better fuel
  • efficiency and passenger Comfort but
  • with the timeline now uncertain cath
  • Pacific has been forced to keep its
  • older models in service longer than
  • anticipated maintaining these aging
  • aircraft increases operational costs as
  • they require more frequent maintenance
  • and are less fuel efficient compared to
  • Modern
  • PLS this situation puts a strain on C
  • Pacific's resources
  • and affects the airline's ability to

  • 13:02
  • offer the best possible service to its
  • passengers to address these challenges
  • cath Pacific has implemented several
  • strategies the airline has begun
  • retrofitting its 7- 300 ER aircraft with
  • new Interiors including the ARA Suites
  • for business class and premium economy
  • this does mean that they will lose their
  • first class cabin s this retrofitting
  • helps improve passenger comfort and
  • update the Aging Fleet with more modern
  • amenities additionally cath Pacific is
  • maintaining a skeleton network of first
  • class equipped aircraft to operate on
  • core routes this ensures that the
  • airline can still offer premium services
  • to its high-end customers despite the
  • delays by focusing on strategic routes
  • cath can maximize the use of its most

  • 14:02
  • valuable
  • assets moreover the airline has openly
  • expressed its disappointment with Boeing
  • over the
  • delays this transparency is crucial in
  • maintaining stakeholder confidence and
  • applying pressure on Boeing to resolve
  • the issues
  • swiftly as cath Pacific navigates these
  • challenges the aviation industry watches
  • closely the steps they take now could
  • set a precedent for how other airlines
  • cope with similar disruptions the big
  • question remains will Boeing manage to
  • overcome the technical hurdles and
  • deliver the tri 7x or will Airlines like
  • cath Pacific have to further adapt their
  • strategies with so much at stake cath
  • Pacific's actions today will shape their
  • operation
  • for years to come how they adapt to

  • 15:03
  • Boeing's setbacks could determine their
  • future in the competitive world of
  • Aviation as Boeing grapples with the
  • challenges facing the trip 7 x the path
  • forward is critical not just for the
  • company but for the aviation industry as
  • a whole the stakes are high and the
  • repercussions of this Saga extend beyond
  • Boeing immediate
  • concerns the tri 7x's delays have
  • significant implications for Airlines
  • worldwide impacting Fleet planning and
  • operational
  • strategies cath Pacific's experience
  • exemplifies this broader reality as one
  • of Boeing's longest standing customers
  • cath's dependence on the trip 7x for its
  • plan to renew its Fleet makes it even
  • more important for Boeing to meet their

  • 16:01
  • deadlines while they wait for the new
  • planes airlines are feeling the push to
  • change how they do business this
  • situation brings up an important
  • question how will companies like cath
  • deal with the uncertainty that these
  • delays have created on the other hand
  • Boeing must prioritize addressing
  • technical issues such as the GE 9x
  • engine performance and the foldable wing
  • tips ensuring these Innovations meet the
  • rigorous standards expected by
  • regulators and Airlines alike resolving
  • these challenges not only restores faith
  • in the triple
  • 7x but also reassures customers that
  • Boeing can deliver on its promises
  • moving forward moreover the landscape of
  • Aviation is evolving rapidly with
  • increasing competition from Airbus and

  • 17:00
  • emerging players in the market Boeing's
  • ability to deliver the 7x on time could
  • shape its reputation and market share
  • for years to come the delay creates an
  • opening for competitors to solidify
  • their positions especially in the Long
  • Haul Market where airlines are
  • evaluating
  • Alternatives in the wake of these
  • setbacks Boeing has also faced fin
  • fincial constraints impacting its
  • capacity to invest in development and
  • Workforce the company has had to make
  • tough decisions regarding Workforce
  • reductions and cost cutting measures all
  • of which could affect its long-term
  • viability and Innovation
  • capacity as we look ahead the future of
  • the tri 7x is intertwined with Boeing's
  • commitment to restoring trust with its
  • customers
  • the relationship with Airlines like cath

  • 18:01
  • Pacific is built on Decades of
  • collaboration and now is the time for
  • Boeing to reaffirm its commitment by
  • delivering a reliable safe and efficient
  • product Boeing can not only secure its
  • future but also enhance the overall
  • flying experience for passengers the
  • outcome of the tri 7 x Saga will
  • ultimately serve as a pivotal moment in
  • Boeing history shaping its Legacy for
  • generations to come with cath Pacific's
  • CEO exposing Boeing struggles the
  • aviation world is watching
  • closely the tri 7x's delays highlight
  • the risks of ambitious promises that
  • fall short and Boeing now has to prove
  • it can meet the high expectations it set
  • as Airlines adapt and seek Alternatives
  • only time will tell if the trip 7x can

  • 19:01
  • fulfill its potential or if it becomes a
  • cautionary Tale in aviation history what
  • do you think is Boeing up to the
  • challenge and can they turn things
  • around and meet the expectations of
  • Airlines let us know in the comments
  • below


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