Boeing has enjoyed a brief respite from the trials and tribulations of its 737 MAX with the successful launch of a new aircraft it hopes could change long-haul travel for decades. The Seattle-based manufacturer completed the maiden flight of its 777X at the third attempt over the weekend, with two previous efforts called off due to high winds. The plane, a larger and more fuel-efficient version of Boeing’s successful 777 plane, spent around three hours in the air before landing safely. Boeing officials said the flight would kickstart months of further testing and certification before the plane, otherwise known as the 777-9, would enter service in 2021 with Emirates, a year later than planned due to development snags. Executives at the world’s premier airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and British Airways, will be keeping a close eye on proceedings. “To me this is the flagship for the big airlines around the world,” Boeing marketing director Wendy Sowers told Reuters. “It represents the great things we can do as a company.” Boeing will be desperate for a smooth introduction for the 777X as the manufacturer continues a fight for its reputation while the 737 MAX remains grounded. The saga has raised questions over the safety culture at the manufacturer, as well as its relationship with the US governing body, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The 777X on its maiden flight above a foggy Seattle Credit: getty Indeed, investigations into the fatal crashes of the 737 MAX have uncovered concerns that the 777X could be threatened by similar technical failings. One Boeing worker wrote in an internal email: “Best part is we are re-starting this whole thing with the 777X with the same supplier and have signed up to an even more aggressive schedule.” A Boeing spokesperson said: “The 777X will be rigorously certified. If there are learnings that affect it, the certification process will capture those.” How will the 777X change air travel? The 777-9, the first of the X family to be developed, will have the biggest jet engines ever seen, attached to the longest wings of any aircraft ever made by the Seattle company. The 777X – a rival to Airbus’s A350-1000 – is said to combine the very best of the existing 777 plane, as favoured by the likes of BA, and the game-changing 787 Dreamliner, which has been praised as one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in history, garnering plaudits from passengers around the world. Boeing staff watch the 777X on Saturday Credit: getty It’s an “absolute peach”, said Emirates president Tim Clark of the 777X. The Dubai airline has staked its future on the aircraft, ordering 115. “It is a step change in aircraft design and a step change in propulsion. We are very happy we have got what we wanted,” he told Australian Aviation. A single 777-9 (a smaller sibling, the 777-8, will follow) is priced at $442 million but will likely sell, considering typical bulk airline discounts, for around $200 million (£155m), making it Boeing’s most expensive plane. Last year, IAG, which owns British Airways, announced an order for 18 of the aircraft. “The new 777-9 is the world’s most fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft and will bring many benefits to British Airways’ fleet,” said IAG chief executive Willie Walsh at the time. “It’s the ideal replacement for the 747 and its size and range will be an excellent fit for the airline’s existing network.” What’s so good about the 777X? On the one hand, it promises a vast increase in fuel efficiency, working towards an operating cost reduction of up to 18 per cent, which in turn should lead to a fall in fares on long-haul flights. Boeing says it will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine plane on the planet. According to Reuters, Boeing and Airbus have clashed over the relative efficiencies of their flagship aircraft, with both eager to convince carriers. On the other, it is another step in the evolution of passenger comfort, with the same benefits showcased on the Dreamliner expected on the 777X, including large, dimmable windows, higher ceilings and an anti-dry, jetlag-beating ventilation system. Airlines often take the bulk arrival of a new model of plane as an opportunity to redesign their cabins; Lufthansa is one to transform its business class ahead of welcoming the 777X. What’s more is its pin-up potential. With a wing-span of up to 71.8 metres and a length of 76.7 metres (longer than a 747), the 777X is a beast. Dominic Gates, aerospace reporter for the Seattle Times, was part of a press group allowed inside the Everett assembly plant in north-west America ahead of the aircraft’s initial rollout last year. “It will be an impressive sight in the sky,” he said. “While most planes look much the same to harried air travellers, Boeing’s newest jet may manage to catch and arrest even the casual eye. The aircraft's folding tips are a design first Credit: getty “Passengers about to board will see its long, long carbon-fiber wings arc up and away from low on the fuselage, gull-like, then curve downward to the tips. There the wings will end in what will surely be the iconic image of this plane: scythe-like wingtips painted with a 777X and folded upward so the jet fits at the airport gate.” Because of its size, and Boeing’s desire to allow the aircraft to operate at airports around the world, engineers have built in a folding wing mechanism, a first for a civilian airliner. Another indication of the 777X’s bulk is its engines. The General Electric GE9X turbines have been designed specifically for the Boeing model and sold as the quietest and greenest engines ever made by General Electric. Each engine is larger than the fuselage of a 737 aircraft, at 134 inches across, and will deliver 105,000 pounds of thrust. Carrying as many as 426 passengers in a two-class set-up (in the longer 777-9; or 384 in three classes), the X could become the mainstay of many international airlines. Can it fly further than any existing plane? Not quite. Boeing has not placed range at the heart of its appeal. The 777-8 has a projected range of 8,730 nautical miles, and the 777-9 7,285 nautical miles, both shorter than the 9,700 nautical miles of the A350-900ULR, the aircraft currently serving the world’s longest flight between New York and Singapore. Boeing has already suffered its first snub for the 777X, when in December Qantas said Airbus would be the likely provider of aircraft should it launch the “holy grail” route of London to Sydney in 2023. The Australian carrier said A350-1000s fitted with extra fuel tanks would be its preferred plane, with chief executive Alan Joyce citing “the best possible combination of commercial terms, fuel efficiency, operating cost and customer experience”. It is Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner currently serving Qantas’ groundbreaking route between London and Perth, but the success of that service has not proved enough to sway the carrier. Who will fly it? Boeing says it has 309 orders on its books from at least eight carriers, including BA. After a closely-scrutinised silence, BA came out in favour of the 777X, with a firm order for 18 of the larger 777-9 models. The British flag carrier has dozens of 777s in its fleets and is looking to replace its 747 jumbos, which will be retired by 2024. Emirates remains the largest customer for the 777X, despite having reduced its order of the X to accommodate more Dreamliners, while Etihad and Qatar Airways, its Middle Eastern neighbours, also have orders. Iran Air previously had $38billion worth of orders placed with Boeing, including 15 777-9s, but these were all but cancelled when President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. Inspiration for your inbox Sign up to Telegraph Travel's new weekly newsletter for the latest features, advice, competitions, exclusive deals and comment. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.<doc-sep>The 777X is one of the most advanced long-haul aircraft ever to be designed. The good news is, improvements in air travel are coming to the cabin as well. Boeing has revealed some great new pictures of the potential cabin! Boeing is promising an “enhanced passenger experienced” on their largest twin-engine aircraft. Overhead Bins We all know that feeling when there’s just no easy access for the perfectly sized carry-on we brought onboard. Boeing has promised easy access, but still giving the cabin a unique appearance. The size looks incredible too! Airlines will still probably police the size of carry-ons. Nevertheless, not having to hunt for our carry-ons on the other side of the plane makes for a great journey. It seems like the bins will also be able to handle extra weight in comparison to current bins. That will be an added bonus since a heavy bin can be quite difficult to close. If you’re in first or business class, you could perhaps score one of these large bins for just yourself! The Cabin Based on new images of the cabin, it seems like Boeing is retaining some passenger favorites from their 787. The ceilings look wonderful and give the aircraft an open-concept feel. Looking at the picture, this seems like a high-density business class in a 2-3-2 layout. Though not incredibly popular with passengers, some airlines tend to make these kinds of configurations work. We just hope they can provide direct aisle access to all business class passengers. First Class….or Business? Being totally realistic, this looks like a mock-up for a first class seat on an airline like Lufthansa. Boeing seems to be marketing this aircraft as a three-class configuration. Three windows is a lot of pitch which is what seems to give this a first-class feel. Yet, it is entirely possible some airlines may choose to turn this into a business class. We’ve seen some pretty outstanding products in business class! It’ll be interesting to see what new innovations come on this aircraft in the premium cabin. The Main Cabin Economy doesn’t seem to look that bad. Economy doesn’t look that bad….if it was 3-3-3. It is quite possible that most airlines will chose a 3-4-3 configuration in economy. The seat pitch looks to be pretty standard at 32 or 33 inches. Interestingly enough, Boeing didn’t release any images of a premium economy cabin! With premium economy being a huge selling point for many airlines, it remains to be seen if any new investments come into that cabin on the 777X. Perhaps wider seats with more pitch? Overall Overall, the 777X looks to be a comfortable aircraft that will enhance the passenger experience. Now we just have to see what new products we’ll find on the 777X! Are you looking forward to flying on the 777X? Let us know in the comments below!<doc-sep>
Boeing has released a sneak peek of the new cabin innovations it will include on its 'largest and most efficient' twin-engine jetliner yet. The new generation 777X is set to be flown in testing for the first time this spring and airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have already placed orders for the aircraft. And the US-based plane manufacturer has taken to Twitter to show what appears to be both economy and business class on board the plane and how they will look. Boeing released this rendering on Twitter of what appears to be an economy class cabin on its new generation Boeing 777X aircraft. The manufacturer say the cabins will have 'better cabin altitude and humidity, temperature, sound quality and lighting' An image depicting the overhead lockers that are set to be installed on the aircraft, with Boeing explaining they are larger and provide more room for carry on luggage The new generation 777X, picture, is set to be flown in testing for the first time this spring and airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have already placed orders for the aircraft The first picture was posted last week, and showed a rendering of what is thought to be a business class cabin, with large windows. Accompanying the image, Boeing's tweet said: 'Take it all in! Windows on the #777X are larger and higher than the competition, giving everyone a view and more light no matter where you sit.' A second rendering then showed a mock-up of economy, with the caption: 'Just like the 787 #Dreamliner, the #777X passenger experience will leave you feeling refreshed with better cabin altitude and humidity, temperature, sound quality and lighting.' While a third image depicted the overhead lockers that are set to be installed on the aircraft, with Boeing explaining: 'Lose that luggage anxiety! Overhead bins on the #777X are larger, providing more room for your carry-on. Plus they are easier to access!' Boeing also revealed what appears to be a business class seat saying that the windows on board will be the largest yet Boeing claims that the 777X will be the largest and most efficient twin engine jet in the world, with 12 per cent lower fuel consumption and 10 per cent lower operating costs than the competition. Its features include folding wing-tips – the 235ft wings are the biggest Boeing has ever made, over 30ft longer than the current model's wingspan – bigger windows and overhead bins compared to the current 777 and 'advanced LED lighting'. There will be two versions of the 777X - the 777-8 and 777-9, costing $360.5million and $388.7million respectively. The 777-8 will be able to seat between 350 and 375 passengers and the 777-9 between 400 and 425, depending on the buyer's layout requirements. In comparison the current family of 777s offer capacities of between 300 and 370. There will be two versions of the 777X - the 777-8 and 777-9, costing $360.5million and $388.7million respectively There is also an improvement with range. The 777X can fly for 16,110km (10,010miles), compared to the 777's maximum range of 15,800km (9,817miles). Although 777X testing has been underway since 2015 in lab environments, wind tunnels and simulations, a full-scale airplane is needed to verify the design strength and the accuracy of the analytical model used during design. During previous static testing, wings have been tested at 150 per cent of the designated load, resulting in a wing flexing more than 26 feet. Other carriers that have placed orders are All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.