Recently, the number of B777 series aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney (PW) engines is increasing.
The reason for the grounding in the first place was engine trouble caused by an insufficient process to inspect the metal fatigue of the fan blades inside the engine. In 2021, a fan blade broke on a B777-200 operated by United Airlines, and fragments pierced the engine cowl and damaged the fuselage. In addition, a similar accident occurred in December 2020 on the B777-200 type operated by JAL. As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD), and aircraft of the same type operating in various countries will be grounded for emergency inspections. After that, Boeing announced the details of the renovation with Pratt & Whitney, and measures were taken sequentially. Therefore, the B777 aircraft with PW engines that have resumed operation are even safer aircraft.
Back to the main topic, JAL decided to retire all four B777-300s (originally scheduled to retire in 2022) as a result of this PW engine trouble. Therefore, ANA is the only airline that operates the same model in Japan, and has a total of five aircraft. On the other hand, the B777-300 made its first flight on October 6, 1996, and about 26 years have passed since then. Therefore, the B777-300 type operated by ANA has a history of about 24 years, making it the oldest series of passenger aircraft operated by ANA.
The theme of this time is why the B777-300 type has been operated for a long time. I analyzed and predicted how long this aircraft will continue to be used.
Why has the B777-300 been in operation for over 20 years?
A major reason is that there is no successor model that matches ANA’s needs. The table below lists the successor models of the B777 (1st generation). Created based on cruising range and number of cabins.
| B777 First model (seats) | Alternative model | deference of each model |
| -200 (domestic type :405seats) | B787-9 (domestic type : 395 seats) B787-10 (domestic type : TBD) | almost no difference |
| -200ER (domestic type :405seats) | B787-9 (domestic type : 395 seats) B787-10 (domestic type : TBD) | almost no difference |
| -200LR (international type : 3 classes 290 seats) | B777-8 （TBD） | almost no difference |
| -300 (domestic type : 514seats) | B787-10 ? B777-300ER？ | From B787-10 type to B777-300 type About 50 passengers are expected to decrease For the B777-300 type, the B777-300ER type Wingspan about 4m longer |
| -300ER (international type : 4 class 264seats) | B777-9 (TBD) | almost no difference |
| -200F cargo type only | B777-8F | almost no difference |
B787-10 and B777-300ER exist as aircraft with specifications similar to B777-300, but B787-10 is expected to have about 50 less seats than B777-300, and B777 The -300ER model has the same fuselage length in terms of the number of seats, but its wingspan is 4m longer due to the winglets on the tail for long distance use. While the B777-300 and B777-300ER fall under the same code E, this 4-meter difference is presumed to be one of the reasons why the B777-300ER has not been used on domestic flights departing from and arriving at Haneda until today. . If the B777-300ER can be modified in the same way as the B747-400 with the winglet removed -400D, the B777-300ER can be the successor model, but in recent years With winglets becoming an integral part of the wing, it is highly unlikely that Boeing will consider removing them.
In the past, the ideal was to replace the B777-300 with the introduction of a successor model, but this time it seems unlikely that this pattern will be realized. Therefore, there is no choice but to continue using it until the number of flights it can be used and the life of the aircraft. However, we cannot continue to use this machine forever. Therefore, ANA has selected and ordered the B787-10 as a successor model in 2020.
https://www.anahd.co.jp/group/pr/202002/20200225-3.html
How long will the ANA B777-300 continue to be used?
My prediction is that the B777-300 will be retired in 2025. The reason for this is that the delivery of the B787 to airlines has been delayed for more than a year, and the delivery of the B787-10 to ANA has been delayed. I expect it to be
Until 2025, it will serve routes with high tourist demand, such as New Chitose Airport and Naha Airport, and will serve until retirement.
The B777-300 has 514 seats, the largest in Japan, excluding the A380 “Flying Honu” operated by ANA. Therefore, I feel the change of an era.