The long-awaited Boeing 777X is the latest variant of the Boeing 777 family of long-range widebody twin-engine jetliners. It was launched in November 2013 and aims to be the largest and most fuel-efficient twinjet in the world. But why did Boeing decide on a new, elegant cabin architecture for the 777X? Let’s find out more.
There are two variants of the aircraft, the Boeing 777-9, the largest of the two and the longest passenger aircraft ever built, and the Boeing 777-8, the ultra-long-range variant. Their new features include the General Electric GE9X engines, composite wings with a folding wingtip, and new technology from the Boeing 787. The Boeing 777X also has a wider cabin, allowing for a newly designed interior for a better passenger experience.
Enhancing The Cabin
The interior of the Boeing 777X was inspired by some features taken from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing wanted to give a ‘Flagship’ feel to the aircraft and shape the next generation of long-haul travel. The new design and architecture is innovative and sleek with concave surfaces and sculpted curves. The cabin looks fresh and encompasses a wider cabin and larger windows, LED lighting, and smooth seamless design elements. Passenger comfort is at the forefront of the new inventive and expressive design.
One of the most striking features is the ceiling and the use of the overhead bins. The outboard bins are large enough to hold four carry-on bags, yet are almost hidden and create a concave feel to the ceiling. Airlines can opt to have the overhead bins removed or made one-third smaller in premium cabins for a sleeker look and a higher concave ceiling. The higher ceiling and wider cabin allow for space and volume in the cabin but there is still plenty of storage space. The design balances space, weight, storage and aesthetics. The high ceiling and open sight lines make the cabin seem much more spacious.
The Boeing Sky Interior was developed in partnership with Teague on the Boeing 787 program. It was then extended to the Boeing 737 and 747-8 after its debut on the Dreamliner in 2009. For this new design, both companies took the winning aspects from the Dreamliner design and added key insights from the airlines and from passenger research. With this, they were able to refresh the design to create this innovative and elegant cabin architecture.
Features Of The New Architecture
The large windows are taken from the Dreamliner and are set at eye level. They have electrical dimming, although standard window blinds are also available. They are 12% larger than the windows on the Boeing 777. There is customizable lighting and premium ceiling treatments that add to an elegant cabin experience. The lighting is circadian attuned, enhancing the sense of well-being and reducing jet lag. The LED lighting is immersive and brings the sky inside the aircraft. There are sunrise and sunset scenes, a starry night and the northern lights.
The wider cabin (by four inches) was gained through the redesigned sidewalls using advanced materials. These are almost vertical, allowing more space and movement for passengers. This means that in economy, passengers can be seated up to ten abreast but with wider aisles, seats or armrests. In fact, the seats are wider than the standard Boeing 777 seat and can be 17.2″ or 18″ as there is no structural constraint from seat tracks. First class can have four or six individual cabins in a row and business class, seven or eight seats across the cabin. Premium economy can have eight or nine seats abreast.
At the front of the aircraft, there is a crew rest area integrated into the overhead bin format that generates a feeling of space. It can be fitted with up to ten bunks. The galleys and lavatories have been enhanced to be light and more spacious and the rear galley can be fitted in two different designs. There is a welcome galley at the main entrance door to greet passengers and create a great first impression. The interior has a modular framework and there are two base architectural layouts, that allow for future transitions.
Why Did Boeing Change The Design?
Some of the reasons why Boeing chose to change the cabin design were competitive pressure, the airlines’ demands and the fact that passengers wanted a better experience. Many passengers were familiar with the Boeing 777-300ER as it’s been in service since 2004 with many airlines, and they wanted a better experience. The lower cabin altitude and larger windows of newer aircraft like the Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 attracted the airlines and the passengers and proved to be a success.
Boeing utilized features of the Dreamliner but also had to add a new ‘wow factor’. The modern futuristic look was designed to enhance the passenger experience and airlines need to offer something different and unique to attract new passengers and keep the existing ones’ loyalty. Passengers can access emails, mobile phones, Wi-Fi and stream media content or live TV.
Features in the new cabin:
Lower cabin altitude
Improved humidity
Cleaner air
Smooth ride technology
Improved temperature control
Lower cabin noise
Boeing’s design concept was to enhance headroom in the cabin and offer passengers and crew a different onboard perspective. The cabin is connected to the sky and captures the magic of flying. The final design concepts were made with hi-fidelity prototypes and physical mock-up cabins, along with advanced Virtual Reality (VR) technology to simulate the Boeing 777X cabin experience.
What To Expect From the Boeing 777X
The Boeing 777X has new engines and an aerodynamic design, as well as featuring the new cabin architecture. The focus is very much on fuel efficiency and lower operating costs. The aircraft uses proven technology from both the 777 and the 787 as well as new technology such as the wing with its folding wingtip and clean sheet engine design. Inspired by the Boeing 787, the 777X is larger yet cheaper to fly and gives a better cabin experience for passengers and crew.
Some of the benefits the aircraft can offer the airlines are a new passenger experience, reliability, greater revenue and an expansive network. The Boeing 777X has more range and payload, better aerodynamic efficiency, lower fuel consumption, lower maintenance costs and higher dispatch reliability, making it an ideal prospect for airlines.
A huge factor in the aircraft’s success is the lowering of the cabin altitude to 6,000 feet instead of the usual 8,000 feet, making the air more humid and less dry. HEPA filters and the cabin’s fresh air system ensure fresh and clean air at all times. This makes flying much more comfortable without the fatigue that is normally expected when flying long-haul. Now, with the new enhanced cabin too, it makes flying a much more pleasurable experience for passengers and crew.
Keen To Compare
Of course, the rivalry between Boeing and Airbus has always been there as we wait to see what the next new aircraft may bring for the aviation world. It is clear that Boeing is pitching the 777X against the Airbus A350-1000 when they say that the aircraft has 10% lower operating costs than the Airbus A350-1000. This includes a 4% cost reduction with the 777-8 and an 11% cost reduction with the 777-9.
Boeing is keen to compare the 777X with the A350-1000 and says that the 777X has 10% lower fuel use and emissions. They say on their website that the 777X has 5% better aerodynamics than the A350-1000, which is a smaller aircraft. They are also keen to point out that the 777X has more range capacity than the Airbus A350-1000 and that the 777X windows are 29% larger than the Airbus A350s.
The Boeing 777X is clearly a rival to the Airbus A350-1000, although the A350 entered service with Qatar Airways in January 2015 and the A350-1000 in February 2018. In comparison, the Boeing 777X is still plagued by delays and is not expected to enter service until 2027, instead of the original target of 2020. Boeing are keen to compare their new aircraft with the Airbus flagship aircraft.
Leading The Way For Cabin Interiors
The new cabin architecture and its design are a huge upgrade in terms of space and cabin aesthetics. It is the first of its kind for aircraft interiors, which moves away from traditional cabin design and could well influence the cabin of the future. The new Boeing 777X cabin leads the way and is innovative and modern.
The design uses new technology to create an efficient and comfortable cabin for both passengers and crew. Clever LED lighting panels upgrade and calm the cabin, bringing the outside skies in. Airlines can also use LED panels to market their brand in a unique way. The high ceilings and almost invisible overhead bins create a spacious feeling.