Boeing Quietly Boosts 777X Range by 715 Nautical Miles Without Explanation
Boeing has quietly increased the advertised range of its Boeing 777-9 from 7,285 nautical miles to up to 8,000 nautical miles on its official website. This move highlights a cautionary tale about reading advertised aircraft characteristics and comparing performance numbers between companies.
The development comes as both Boeing and Airbus have increased their aircraft's ranges in recent updates. The Airbus A350 series has seen its maximum range increase from 7,750 to up to 9,100 nautical miles for the A350-1000, while the A350-900 now boasts a range of up to 8,600 nautical miles.
The Boeing 777-9's original advertised range was actually shorter than its predecessor, the Boeing 777-300ER, which has an advertised range of 7,370 nautical miles. The updated range for the 777-9 represents a 9.8% increase, while the 777-8 saw an 8.6% boost to up to 9,500 nautical miles.
Industry experts warn that comparing aircraft ranges can be misleading due to varying assumptions and operating conditions. For example, Boeing's new figures may assume more favorable conditions than its older estimates or those of rival Airbus.