Emirates will soon take delivery of the 1,000th production 777, a -300 model like this one. Photo: Andrew Thon - OPShots Contributor
Boeing is starting work on the 1,000th 777, a 777-300ER destined for delivery to Dubai-based Emirates Airline in March 2012.
Emirates is the largest 777 customer with 95 777s currently in its fleet and the 1,000th aircraft will be the Middle East carrier’s 102nd.
Some 970 777s have now been delivered, and with the upcoming milestone next year, the 777 will become the seventh heritage Boeing jetliner to reach the 1,000th delivery figure after the 707, 727, 737, 747, 757 and 767. The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 also exceeded 1,000 deliveries. Firm orders for the 777 now stand at 1,295.
The start of assembly of the milestone aircraft comes 16.5 years after the 777 first entered commercial service. The event also illustrates the quickening pace of twin-aisle production and, more strikingly, how the assembly rate for the mid-size widebody sector is on its way to doubling since the advent of the 767.
