United Airlines received its first delivery on June 7, 1995, and the aircraft entered commercial service with the airline on that date, flying from London’s Heathrow Airport to Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. It followed the medium-range narrow-body 757 and the medium-to-long-range wide-body 767, which Boeing designed in tandem and introduced into commercial service in the early 1980s. The 777 was the first aircraft to be designed entirely by using a computer, and it was the first completely new commercial jet aircraft developed by the Boeing Company in more than a decade. Two passengers, who had not been wearing their seatbelts, were ejected from the aircraft during the crash and were killed.
The preliminary investigation indicated that the aircraft was attempting a landing during active wind shear conditions. All 298 people (283 passengers and 15 crew) on board were killed, making this the deadliest crash involving the Boeing 777. On July 29, 2015, an item later identified as a flaperon from the still missing aircraft was found on the island of Réunion in the western Indian Ocean, consistent with having drifted from the main search area. Air Traffic Control’s last reported coordinates for the aircraft were over the South China Sea.
New production methods were developed, including a turn machine that could rotate fuselage subassemblies 180 degrees, giving workers access to upper body sections. An agreement between Boeing and the Japan Aircraft Development Corporation, representing Japanese aerospace contractors, made the latter risk-sharing partners for 20 percent of the entire development program. The production process included substantial international content, an unprecedented level of global subcontracting for a Boeing jetliner, later exceeded by the 787. The first generation of Boeing 777 models, the -200, -200ER, and -300 have since been known collectively as the Boeing 777 Classics. The -300 was awarded type certification simultaneously from the FAA and JAA on May 4, 1998, and entered service with launch customer Cathay Pacific on May 27, 1998.
Boeing 777-300ER
The 777 Freighter, or 777F, was released in 2008, having been designed specifically to carry cargo. It is the world’s largest two-engine jet (twin jet), and more than 1, s were in operation in the early 2020s. The new Boeing 777X will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, unmatched in every aspect of performance. Several countries also restricted flights of PW4000-equipped 777s in their territory. The captain declared an emergency and returned to land at the Denver airport.
From its design to its performance, it’s changed the way we think about air travel. Airlines are retiring older, less efficient jets in favor of newer, fuel-saving models like the 777. The Boeing 777 has proven itself as a leader in commercial aviation, but what does the future hold? The cabin is spacious, the air feels fresher thanks to advanced systems, and there’s plenty of room for luggage. The 777 is a long-range jet, able to connect cities halfway across the world without refueling.
Eight different customers have taken delivery of 60 aircraft of the variant, of which 18 were powered by the PW4000 and 42 by the RR Trent 800 (none were ordered with the GE90, which was never certified on this variant), with 48 in airline service as of 2018update. Its operating empty weight with Rolls-Royce engines in typical tri-class layout is 343,300 lb (155.72 t) compared to 307,300 lb (139.38 t) for a similarly configured -200. Nine different -200 customers have taken delivery of 88 aircraft, with 55 in airline service as of 2018update. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aircraft type designator system adds a preceding manufacturer letter, in this case “B” for Boeing, hence “B772” or “B773”. Each manufacturer agreed to develop an engine in the 77,200–98,000 lbf (343–436 kN) of thrust class for the world’s largest twinjet, resulting in the General Electric GE90, Pratt & Whitney PW4000, or Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines. With the launch of the 777X in 2013, Boeing confirmed that the aircraft would be receiving a new interior featuring 787 cabin elements and larger windows.
Production
As of the end of 2022 Boeing had received over 2,100 orders for the 777 and had made more than 1,600 deliveries of it to some 60 customers since the 777’s introduction, making it the aircraft with the most orders and deliveries of any wide-body jetliner. In its announcement for the award, which is conferred annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in the United States, the NAA called the 777 “the world’s most advanced commercial airplane.” The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) recognized the Boeing Company and the 777 team with its Robert J. Collier Trophy for 1995 for their work designing, manufacturing, and introducing the 777 into service.
First flight and deliveries
The last -300 was delivered in 2006 while the longer-range -300ER started deliveries in 2004. Its overwing fuselage section 44 was strengthened, with its skin thickness going from the -200’s 0.25 to 0.45 in (6.3 to 11.4 mm), and received a new evacuation door pair. Launched at the Paris Air Show on June 26, 1995, its major assembly started in March 1997 and its body was joined on July 21, it was rolled-out on September 8 and made its first flight on October 16. Other new features include extended raked wingtips, redesigned main landing gear, and additional structural strengthening. Developed alongside the -300ER, the -200LR features an increased MTOW and three optional auxiliary fuel tanks in the rear cargo hold. Boeing named it Worldliner as it can connect almost any two airports in the world, although it is still subject to ETOPS restrictions.
Entry into service
The FAA awarded 180-minute ETOPS clearance (“ETOPS-180”) for the Pratt & Whitney PW4084-engined aircraft on May 30, 1995, making it the first airliner to carry an ETOPS-180 rating at its entry into service. Nine aircraft fitted with General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce engines were flight tested at locations ranging from the desert airfield at Edwards Air Force Base in California to frigid conditions in Alaska, mainly Fairbanks International Airport. The Triple Seven can accommodate a ten–abreast seating layout and has a typical 3-class capacity of 301 to 368 passengers, with a range of 5,240 to 8,555 nautical miles nmi (9,700 to 15,840 km; 6,030 to 9,840 mi). Room for an additional seat in every row gives airlines the opportunity to boost revenue passenger capacity while maintaining a high level of passenger comfort. Whether it’s flying passengers across the globe or transporting vital cargo, this aircraft is built to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry.
The aircraft sustained structural, heat and smoke damage, and was written off. The aircraft was evacuated with no injuries, and airport fire teams extinguished the fire. Two other minor momentary losses of thrust with Trent 895 engines occurred later in 2008. It entered service with Ethiopian Airlines in December 2024 on lease from Altavair. Emirates is the largest airline operator as of 2018update, and is the only customer to have operated all 777 variants produced, including the -200, -200ER, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F. Various airframes have been used since to test a wide variety of technologies in collaboration with a range of industrial partners.
- The aircraft, operated by British Airways, sustained fire damage to the lower wing panels and engine housing; it was later repaired and returned to service.
- Under ETOPS rules, airlines began operating the 767 on long-distance overseas routes that did not require the capacity of larger airliners.
- These were the first fatalities in a crash involving a 777 since its entry into service in 1995.
- By the late 2000s, the 777 was facing increased potential competition from Airbus’ planned A350 XWB and internally from proposed 787 series, both airliners that offer fuel efficiency improvements.
Development and specifications
Electronic checklists, which airlines can customize with airline-specific information and procedures, speed preflight checks and save valuable minutes that can buffer departure schedules. Most airplanes offer crew rest areas either in the passenger cabin or in the cargo compartment – a costly alternative that reduces revenue-generating opportunities. The 777 offers excellent cabin flexibility and the ability for operators to accommodate the latest in premium seats and in-flight entertainment. The airplane is renowned for its Boeing Signature Interior and spacious passenger cabin.
The wings on the 777 feature a supercritical airfoil design that is swept back at 31.6 degrees and optimized for cruising at Mach 0.83 (revised after flight tests up to Mach 0.84). Composite components include the cabin floor and rudder, with the 777 being the first Boeing airliner to use composite materials for both the horizontal and vertical stabilizers (empennage). Both models are to be equipped with new generation GE9X engines and feature new composite wings with folding wingtips. By the late 2000s, the 777 was facing increased potential competition from Airbus’ planned A350 XWB and internally from proposed 787 series, both airliners that offer fuel efficiency improvements. Lasting 22 hours and 42 minutes, the flight surpassed the -200LR’s standard design range and was logged in the Guinness World Records.
- Deficiencies in Asiana Airlines’ pilot training and in Boeing’s documentation of complex flight control systems were also cited as contributory factors.
- Boeing was also redesigning the inboard flap fairings to reduce drag by reducing pressure on the underside of the wing.
- Seating options range from four to six–abreast in first class up to ten–abreast in economy.
- The 777 Freighter, or 777F, was released in 2008, having been designed specifically to carry cargo.
The higher-thrust variants, GE90-110B1 and -115B, have a different architecture from that of the earlier GE90 versions. French Bee’s is even more dense with its 411 seats A , due to 10-abreast economy seating, reaching a €.04 CASK according to Air France, and lower again with its 480 seats on the -1000. Further details released in 2014 included re-sculpted cabin sidewalls for greater interior room, noise-damping technology, and higher cabin humidity. In July 2011, Flight International reported that Boeing was considering replacing the Signature Interior on the 777 with a new interior similar to that on the 787, as part of a move towards a “common cabin experience” across all Boeing platforms. Boeing designed a hydraulically damped toilet seat cover hinge that closes slowly.
Initial service was affected by gearbox bearing wear issues, which caused British Airways to temporarily withdraw its 777 fleet from transatlantic service in 1997, returning to full service later that year. The first flight took place on June 12, 1994, under the command of chief test pilot John E. Cashman. Each design drawing was created on a three-dimensional CAD software system known as CATIA, sourced from Dassault Systèmes and IBM.
Later plans expanded the fuselage vegas casino app cross-section but retained the existing 767 flight deck, nose, and other elements. In 1986, Boeing unveiled proposals for an enlarged 767, tentatively named 767-X, to target the replacement market for first-generation wide-bodies such as the DC-10, and to complement existing 767 and 747 models in the company lineup. The trijet “777” was later dropped, following marketing studies that favored the 757 and 767 variants. As of May 2024update, the 777 has been involved in 31 aviation accidents and incidents, including five hull loss accidents out of eight total hull losses with 542 fatalities including 3 ground casualties. As of November 2025update, more than 60 customers have placed orders for 2, s across all variants, of which 1,774 have been delivered.
The -300ER, which combined the -300’s added capacity with the -200ER’s range, became the top-selling 777 variant in the late 2000s, benefitting as airlines replaced comparable four-engine models with twinjets for their lower operating costs. From its design to its performance, it’s built to impress airlines and passengers. Airlines and passengers alike love it for its fuel efficiency, spacious cabins, and impressive range. The 777 Freighter (777F) is an all-cargo variant which shares several features with the -200LR, including its airframe, engines, and fuel capacity. In designing the 777 as its first fly-by-wire commercial aircraft, Boeing decided to retain conventional control yokes rather than change to sidestick controllers as used in many fly-by-wire fighter aircraft and in many Airbus airliners.
Following flight testing, aerodynamic refinements have reduced fuel burn by an additional 1.4%. As of April 2021update, 247 aircraft had been ordered by 25 customers, with 45 orders remaining unfilled. The 777F includes a supernumerary area forward of the rigid cargo barrier with four business-class seats, two crew bunks, a galley, and a lavatory. The closest competing aircraft from Airbus are the discontinued A HGW and the current A ULR. It has a maximum design range of 8,555 nautical miles (15,844 km; 9,845 mi) as of 2017update. The value of a new -200ER rose from US$110 million at service entry to US$130 million in 2007; a 2007 model 777 was selling for US$30 million ten years later, while the oldest ones had a value around US$5–6 million, depending on the remaining engine time.
Performance and Range:
The Boeing 777 had its first flight on June 12, 1994, and it was an instant hit. Book and manage your flights on the go. And stay entertained throughout your flight with up to 6,500 channels, hundreds of new movies and music channels every month. Enjoy our new seat cover designs and leather headrests. You can also sit back and relax in our refreshed Economy Class cabin. And our already spacious seats are now two inches wider for even more comfort.