Gulf carrier Emirates has once again criticized Boeing over delays to the 777X aircraft.
Tim Clark, president of the airline, said the uncertainty over deliveries would cause major disruption to the carrier’s operations and reiterated that he wanted a “grown-up conversation” with Boeing over the matter.
“We work to precision. I struggle with others who can’t get that,” the Reuters news agency quoted Clark as saying during a briefing at a meeting of airlines in Boston on October 5, 2021.
Emirates was initially due to receive its first 777X in June 2020. Clark has previously said that he expects the jet won’t now be available until 2024.
The latest criticism comes after Clark warned Boeing in May 2021 that Emirates would refuse the delivery of 777X jets if it failed to meet its contractual performance obligations.
Emirates is the largest customer of the 777X, with 126 of the widebodies on order. An original order placed in 2013 for 150 777X aircraft was altered in 2019, when Emirates cancelled orders for 24 of the jets, instead taking 30 smaller 787 Dreamlimers.
Back on May 18, 2021, Emirates’ chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the airline did not rule out a swap of up to a third of its 777X order for more 787s.
According to Reuters, when asked about this possibility on October 5, 2021, Clark replied it would depend on Boeing.
Boeing expects the 777X will be certified in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Emirates is due to publish first-half financial results next month. Reuters cited Clark as saying that the losses would be significantly reduced compared to last year, with more improvement expected in the second half of the year thanks to borders opening up.
As a hub airline that mostly connects international destinations via Dubai, Emirates has especially suffered with the closure of borders. Gulf rival Qatar Airways reported a loss of over $4 billion for its last financial year due to the pandemic.
