EVERETT — While Boeing missed out on Delta’s big twin-aisle jetliner order, it landed another — albeit smaller — prize from Kuwait Airways.
The Persian Gulf carrier says it plans to order 10 777-300ER airplanes. The order is worth $3.3 billion at list price.
Boeing has struggled to win 777 orders, especially after it unveiled its new 777X airliner, which is slated to enter service in 2020.
Currently, the aerospace giant only has enough 777 classic orders to keep the production line running into mid-2017 at its current rate. At the end of October, Boeing had 273 orders for 777s.
Many industry watchers say the company has to slow production down to keep the 777 classic line working for a couple years after the first 777X is delivered to a customer.
But Boeing executives say they expect to get enough orders to bridge the gap.
The company actually increased its 777 production rate to 8.3 airplanes a month, which works out to 100 a year. The airplane is assembled in Boeing’s Everett plant.
Kuwait Airways will get its first 777-300ER in November 2016, according to a statement from its CEO Rasha Al-Roumi.
The order is part of a big fleet expansion by Kuwait Airways, which currently only has 17 planes. Two of those are 777-200ERs. They rest are Airbus airplanes.
Earlier this year, the airline ordered 25 aircraft from Airbus — 10 A320neos and 15 A350-800s. It also agreed to lease 12 other airplanes.
Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.
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