Boeing announces BBJ 777X
Boeing has always had a strong game with their lineup of business jets, known as Boeing Business Jets (BBJs), and today, the addition of the 777X Family to the BBJ lineup continues this success.
Announced in Dubai at the bi-annual Middle East Business Aviation Association Show (MEBAA), the BBJ 777X, once flying, will be the longest flying business jet ever built, with the capability to fly more than halfway across the world without stopping.
Head of Boeing Business Jets, Greg Laxton, commented on the launch in the following statement to media:
“Our most exclusive customers want to travel with the best VIP experience and comfort and fly directly to their destination. The new BBJ 777X will be able to do this like no other airplane before it, redefining ultra-long range VIP travel.”
As stated above, the BBJ 777X will be available in the two variants of the 777X available to airlines, that being the 777-8 and 777-9. The following table breaks down the specifications of the two aircraft in BBJ configuration:
| BBJ 777X Aircraft | Range (nautical miles) | Range (kilometres) | Cabin Area (m2) | Cabin Area (ft2) |
| BBJ 777-9 | 11,000 | 20,370 | 342.7 | 3689 |
| BBJ 777-8 | 11,645 | 21,570 | 302.5 | 3256 |
Making use of this cabin area are three leading design firms Boeing selected, which are
- Greenpoint Technologies
- Jet Aviation
- Unique Aircraft Design
Boeing selected these three not only because they offer the best product for this application, but because they outline the versatility available within the BBJ 777X.
Greenpoint Technologies
Greenpoint, being one of the most recognized VIP aircraft outfitting firms, has had plenty of experience with the Boeing Business Jet product, having completed the V-VIP BBJ 787-8, the V-VIP 747-8 and the Crystal AirCruises BBJ 777.
The following images are renderings of their BBJ 777X product concepts:
Master Lavatory
Entryway
Master Bedroom
Master Suite
Jet Aviation
Founded in 1967, Jet Aviation is now a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics and provides customers with well-renowned business jet products, ranging from maintenance plans to complete outfitting.
For the BBJ 777X, Jet Aviation released the following concept renderings:
Dining Room
Entrance Way
Master Lavatory
Unique Aircraft Design and ACA 3D
Office
Lounge
Master Lavatory
Looking at these images, we can see Boeing has organised nothing short of absolute luxury and efficiency, showing their confidence in the BBJ 777X and its capability to touch on those V-VIP markets such as heads of state or other government officials.
Comparing these images to other products on offer on smaller variants of the BBJ, Boeing has maintained the level of quality we all expect, making the aircraft a very compelling option for those who have the enormous amount of money required to purchase one.
With list prices for the 777-8 and 777-9 just under and over US$425 million, the BBJ 777X is expected to send the price skyrocketing, begging the question, how many will Boeing sell and who exactly would want to buy one?
It’s understandable that BBJ aircraft and similar offerings such as the Airbus Corporate Jet aren’t going to sell in the hundreds, however there is a point where you have to consider the feasibility of such project.
Ultimately the 777X is just an expansion as well as a modern replacement for the existing lineup of BBJ aircraft, and whoever decides to take one on can expect to receive an outstanding product with the latest in aircraft efficiency thanks to the revised wings and General Electric GE9X engines.
