DUBAI, April 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Emirates airlines expects the first 
aircraft of its delayed Boeing 777X order to arrive in the second half of 
next year, the group's chairman and chief executive told reporters on 
Tuesday.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, asked about the 777X delivery during a 
roundtable event at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, said that the company 
expects "in the second half of 2026... to receive the first aircraft".

In 2024, Sheikh Ahmed urged Boeing to "fix" its problems, warning the 
embattled aircraft-maker he was unhappy with delays to the 777X.

The US manufacturer had been mired in problems including safety concerns 
after two 737 MAX crashes within five months and another scare involving the 
aircraft over Alaska in January 2024.

Boeing had already pushed back the first delivery of the 777X to 2026 from 
2025.

Dubai-based Emirates, the Middle East's biggest airline and the biggest 
operator of 777 planes, has 205 777Xs on order worth billions.

In November 2023, it made a $52 billion order for 55 Boeing 777-9s, 35 777-8s 
and five 787 Dreamliners.

Emirates had already said it was retrofitting its fleet to make up for the 
delays. On Tuesday its chairman said the group would retrofit "90 percent of 
our total fleet".