［Aviation TODAY Series] B777-300 was launched!

Twenty-five years ago today, September 8th, is the day that the B777-300, which boasts the largest number of seats on domestic flights in Japan, was rolled out. (September 8, 1997)

The B777-300 aircraft was introduced to both ANA and JAL as the successor to the B747SR, and continued to operate on main routes to and from Haneda for nearly 20 years. As of 2022, all of JAL's B777-300 aircraft have been retired except for the ER type, while ANA has returned the B777-300 aircraft, which had been out of service for a long time due to problems with Pratt & Whitney engines. Therefore, it seems that ANA can be seen on domestic flights for the time being. In the B777 series, the B777-300ER is the most conspicuous because it is in charge of the star route, but this time we will focus on the features of the B777-300, which is not the ER type.

• 514 seats are the largest on domestic flights!
• The smallest 60 aircraft produced in the B777 series!
• now gradually retiring

First of all, I would like to explain "514 seats are the largest on domestic flights!". The A380 operated by ANA has the largest number of seats among aircraft operated by Japanese airlines. This aircraft has 520 seats in four classes. A380 is an aircraft that operates only between Haneda and Honolulu, which is an international flight, and B777-300 has the maximum number of seats when it comes to domestic flights. Moreover, while the A380 is a two-story structure, the B777-300 is a single-story structure. Therefore, I think you can see how the B777-300 has many ordinary seats as a domestic flight aircraft. JAL used to operate B777-300, but now only ANA.

Next, I would like to explain about "The smallest 60 aircraft produced in the B777 series!". Development of the B777 series began with the first model, the -200. The table below shows the number of orders received by the end of July 2022.

As can be seen from the above table, orders are concentrated on B777-200ER and B777-300ER. The reason is that the B777 is a large twin-engine aircraft, so airlines need to fly long distances with a certain amount of passengers and cargo. According to Boeing's catalog cruising range, the B777-300 is 11,000km and the B777-300ER is 15,000km, a difference of 4,000km. In fact, even the B777-300 can operate some long-distance flights. However, the ER type tends to be preferred for long-distance flights because airlines do not allow flights under conditions where it is difficult to operate on time due to heavy cargo being loaded or deterioration of fuel efficiency due to strong headwinds. . As a result, the B777-300 aircraft has a growing tendency to be introduced specifically for short- to medium-distance operations within the Asian region. In addition to ANA and JAL, the airlines that operated were Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and Thai International Airlines. On the other hand, there were no orders from Western airlines.

Finally, I would like to explain about “currently gradually retiring”. Due to the impact of the new coronavirus, airlines have fallen into a crisis situation where there are almost no international flights, not to mention domestic flights. As a result, many of the B777-300s, which began operating in 1990, have been put on standby on the ground or stored in the desert for a long period of time, and some have been retired as they are. The airlines that operate the B777-300 also have the B777-300ER, so it is natural to give priority to younger aircraft and return them to service. On the other hand, ANA has reinstated the B777-300 for domestic flights, while proceeding with the retirement of the B777-300ER for international flights. The reason is that the B777-300ER type is unmatched for domestic flights. This is because the B777-300ER is 4m wider than the B777-300, so it is necessary to be careful when handling it on the parking lot for domestic flights.

The following is my personal opinion, but when I saw this aircraft at the boarding gate, I felt an irresistible sense of exhilaration. For that reason, it is thought that it will gradually become rare, but I would like you to do your best in safe operation until retirement.