DUBAI: Boeing still plans to deliver the first of a revamped version of its 777 long-haul jet in mid-2020, a senior executive said on Saturday.
Plans for the new 777X have been received "very positively" by all three major Gulf airlines, Marty Bentrott, senior vice president for international sales, told a news conference.
A U.S. union leader has said talks with Boeing that led to a contract proposal voted down by union members last week had been driven by a decision to "expedite development" of the 777X, because of the success of a competing Airbus plane.
"There is no change of schedule," Bentrott said, adding that talks with the union had begun in March.
Boeing meanwhile expects to turn the corner on reliability problems with the 787 Dreamliner within six months as a result of software changes, he said.
Customers including Qatar Airways and Norwegian Air have complained about the plane's reliability.
Bentrott predicted the Dreamliner's latest version, the 787-10, would be part of the Middle East's fast-growing fleet and said he was confident about prospects for the 737 MAX.
Industry sources have said the 777X will be formally launched at Sunday's opening of the Dubai Airshow with as many as 250 orders for the twin-engined aircraft, which will include the world's longest-range jetliner among its two variants.
Industry sources also expect heavy orders at the Middle East's largest aviation gathering to include 30 Dreamliners and a 75-plane order for the Boeing 737 MAX, as well orders for all sizes of Airbus jets. (Reuters)
