Emirates president Tim Clark has offered his most precise public timetable yet for the Emirates 777X programme, indicating that deliveries of the Boeing 777-9 are likely to start at somewhere between three and five aircraft late in 2027, before rising to approximately ten in the year that follows.
The remarks came at a Berlin economic summit hosted by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, Aviation A2Z reported. Clark also addressed Emirates' standing order for 35 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and the carrier's continuing appetite for a stretched variant of the Airbus A350.
What Clark Said About Emirates 777X Timing
Speaking to media in Berlin, Clark was candid about the uncertainty still surrounding the programme. "We're in discussions about trying to improve the number we're going to get, but it will be between 3 and 5, and in the following year maybe 10," he told Khaleej Times. He added: "I'm fairly vague about it because, I think, Boeing are fairly vague about it as well, even at this stage."
There is a broader backdrop to that uncertainty. As Bloomberg reported, cited by Aviation A2Z, the manufacturer was turning out 777X jets at a rate of roughly one a month as of its October 2026 earnings call. Boeing's third-quarter 2026 results also revealed component shortages at a critical 777 supplier, with the resulting disruption set to run through the opening half of 2027. The manufacturer stated in its Q3 2026 financial filing that regulatory sign-off on the outstanding phases of 777-9 flight testing was anticipated before the close of 2026, Bloomberg reported.
Delays have dogged the 777-9 throughout its development. The original schedule called for certification and first deliveries in 2020, meaning the programme now trails that target by more than seven years on any reasonable count, Aviation A2Z notes. Our own coverage of the parts dispute that has affected 777 production lines sets out additional detail on the supply chain difficulties Boeing has been navigating.
The 787 Question
Emirates holds a 270-aircraft 777X order that makes it the programme's single largest customer, and the airline also has a commitment for 35 Boeing 787 Dreamliners on its books. Clark told Khaleej Times that a resolution on the 787 order was imminent, with the airline likely to reach a conclusion within roughly a month, subject to receiving clearer visibility on 777X production schedules.
He suggested the 787 aircraft could end up with other airlines or lessors rather than being operated by Emirates, Khaleej Times reports. The implication is that the 787 order may be redirected rather than simply cancelled, though no formal announcement has been made.
Interest in a Stretched A350
Clark also reiterated Emirates' interest in a larger variant of the Airbus A350, referring to it as the A350-2000, Khaleej Times reports. The remark is consistent with a long-held position at Emirates that very large aircraft remain central to its network model. "You got to have a bigger aeroplane," Clark told Khaleej Times.
Airbus has not announced an A350-2000 programme, and no order has been placed. Clark's comments reflect commercial pressure on Airbus rather than a confirmed development.
Clark's Continuing Role
Clark, who is 76, had at one point been due to step down from Emirates in June 2020, following 35 years at the carrier, Aviation A2Z reported. His decision to remain in post means he is personally committed to seeing the 777X through to the point of delivery, having championed the programme for well over a decade.
His remarks in Berlin came against a broader backdrop of pressure on Gulf carriers. Our analysis of what eight months of regional conflict have done to the Gulf super-connectors set out in detail how Emirates and its peers have been absorbing network disruption while continuing to plan for long-term fleet renewal.
The Bottom Line
The Emirates 777X story is slowly moving from programme delay into early delivery planning, though Clark's own words make clear that Boeing's production rate and certification progress remain the binding constraint. Three to five aircraft in late 2027, rising to around ten in 2028, would represent a meaningful start for a fleet eventually intended to number 270 jets, but the parts shortages and testing approvals that Boeing still needs to clear leave little room for further slippage.
The 787 decision, expected within a month, will be the next concrete signal of how Emirates is balancing its twin Boeing relationships. Use our Aircraft Search to explore the Boeing 777X and 787 Dreamliner in more detail.
This article draws on reporting by khaleejtimes and Aviation A2Z.
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