The Boeing 777 is one of the most popular widebody aircraft types, which has gone through various iterations and models, the last of which, the Boeing 777-300ER, which was also the most popular variant of the type. While the production of the passenger variant has now ceased, Boeing, since 2013, has been preparing the next-generation variant of the type, the Boeing 777X.

While the jet was supposed to enter commercial service in 2020, and is now not expected to do so until 2027, the aircraft has drawn considerable demand from various operators worldwide. Improvements offered include better capacity, fuel efficiency, and operational range compared to the previous type. A key metric being compared in the past decade is the operational range. So the question is, how does the range of the 777X compare against the 777-300ERs and other competing aircraft types on the market?

The Range Of The Boeing 777X Variants

Credit: Shutterstock

A key aircraft in the product line for Boeing is the next-generation Boeing 777X, which is an update of the manufacturer’s already popular product, the Boeing 777-300ER. As such, the 777X is expected to surpass its predecessor to provide more capacity, range, and better operational economics than those of the 777-300ER.

When looking at the range, which is a competitive metric in recent years among aircraft on the market, the data from Boeing’s aircraft specifications indicate that the smaller Boeing 777-8 will offer 8,745 NM (16,190 km), while the larger Boeing 777-9 variant is expected to have a range of 7,285 NM (13,500 km). The 777X also includes a freighter variant, but more on that later.

While it might seem odd that the larger aircraft has a smaller range, it is worth noting that fuel is usually stored in aircraft wings (unless equipped with additional tanks within the fuselage), and because both variants of the 777X have the same wingspan, the fuel capacity for either variant is the same. However, the -9 is larger and heavier, which will impose a penalty on the overall range of the aircraft.

How Does This Compare With The 777-300ER?

Credit: Simple Flying

When compared to the previous generation, of all the variants, the 777-300ER was the most popular, as it offered the best capacity and operating economics. However, it is worth noting that the largest range was for the smaller Boeing 777-200LR, which did not receive as many orders because the aircraft was not as fuel-efficient.

As per Boeing’s technical specification, here is how the 777X compares in range with the previous generation aircraft:

For additional context, the aforementioned 777-200LR has a technical range of 8,555 NM with the capacity to accommodate 317 passengers across two classes. It is, however, worth noting that the actual range of the aircraft can vary between airlines and sometimes even within airlines, because factors such as cabin configuration and capacity can have a considerable influence. Especially for aircraft configured for ultra-long haul flights, quite often, the capacity is reduced, and considerable space is allocated to crew-rest areas, which are mandatory for such missions. These facilities take up space but reduce the aircraft’s weight, thereby increasing range.

The above comparison shows that while the older 777-300ER can fly an additional 85 NM (157 km) further than the 777-9, the metrics, when compared with the similarly sized 777-8 show that the -8 can fly a further 1,375 NM (2,546 km) than the 777-300ER, while also carrying three additional passengers in a similar configuration. However, it is worth noting that, though the 777-8 in terms of specification is closer to the extremely popular 777-300ER, the order book shows that the majority of the 777X orders are for the larger -9 variant.

Related

This Is The Most Popular Boeing 777 Variant In 2025

The high-capacity aircraft brings a lot to the table.

The Wings Play A Significant Role

Credit: Simple Flying

Despite being a next-generation aircraft and being introduced even after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which features a fuselage made of advanced composite materials, the 777X still sports the traditional aluminium-alloy fuselage as the previous generation of 777 aircraft. Boeing, however, did make wings out of composite materials for the 777X, which is not only lighter but provides a better strength-to-weight ratio than the traditional wings of its predecessors.

Furthermore, the wings on the 777X feature a first-of-its-kind folding wingtip, which provides the aircraft with a similar wingspan on the ground, enabling the jet to access all airports currently accessible by the 777-300s, but enjoy the advantages of a larger wingspan for flight.

The 777X essentially unfolds its wing tips before taking off and folds them back after landing, essentially ensuring the aircraft has a larger wingspan for every stage of flight, thereby experiencing better lift and flight performance in every stage of flight. This improves operational efficiency, reduces fuel burn, and delivers an increased operational range for the aircraft. The upgraded wings, paired with two new engines, essentially help the 777X operate such long-range flights.

New Engines To Go With The New Wings

Credit: Shutterstock

With the 777X designed to be larger and have a longer wingspan, the aircraft has also had a new engine designed for it by GE Aerospace, and more particularly, the GE9X, which is the largest jet engine designed. The diameter of the engine is large enough that it exceeds the fuselage diameter of a Boeing 737.

Data shows that the larger engines will deliver a higher thrust, providing the aircraft with more power to operate with a higher Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of 805,000 pounds, compared to the 775,000 MTOW provided by the GE90 on the 777-300ERs.

These engines are so powerful that the GE9X has the highest thrust of any commercial aircraft engine, exceeding the power delivery capability of Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines seen on the Airbus A350. Overall, Boeing markets the 777-9 as an aircraft capable of achieving 20% lower fuel consumption and harmful emissions, while also achieving a 40% smaller noise footprint than the aircraft it will replace. But when considering the engine alone, data from GE indicates that the GE9X is expected to deliver 10% better fuel efficiency than the older GE90 on the 777-300ERs.

Related

Rolls-Royce Trent XWB Vs. General Electric GE9X: Which Engine Gets More Miles Per Gallon?

The answer depends on what’s flying today compared to what’s promised for the next generation.

Other Variants Of The 777X Family

Credit: Boeing

When the program was first introduced, the 777X lineup only included the 777-8 and the 777-9. However, in 2022, Boeing announced the launch of a third member in the family, the Boeing 777-8F, which would essentially serve as the next-generation freight jet and a replacement for the extremely popular Boeing 777-F, which is a freighter version based on the Boeing 777-200LR variant.

When comparing the specifications of the two aircraft side-by-side, it is easier to compare various metrics:

The range and capacity trade-off seen with the passenger variants is also evident when it comes to the freighter variants, wherein the upcoming 777-8F can accommodate a further 10 tonnes. Considering the aircraft is larger than the older 777F, the latter can fly 560 NM further (1,037 km).

It is, however, worth noting that Boeing, until 2023, produced the larger Boeing 747-8F, which has the capability to fly up to ranges of 4,265 NM (7,898 km) carrying revenue payloads of up to 133.2 tonnes. Furthermore, with the youngest of the type being just a couple of years old, and cargo aircraft usually remaining operational for decades longer than passenger jets, it is highly probable that the next generation freighters, such as the 777-8F and the A350F will operate alongside the 747 freighters for decades to come.

A Possible Future Variant, The 777-10

Credit: Emirates

While the 777-9 is already set to be the world’s largest twin-engined aircraft when it enters commercial service, there is a possibility that Boeing might build a stretched version of the aircraft in the future, called the 777-10. The possibility of this variant was announced at the Dubai Airshow 2025, when the largest operator of the Boeing 777 and the customer with the most 777X aircraft on order – Emirates, placed a further order for 65 examples of the type and stated that the carrier is pushing Boeing to conduct a feasibility study for a larger aircraft. It is a possibility that stretching the 777-9 to accommodate further passenger capacity will result in a further reduction to the aircraft’s range.

It is worth noting that the airline’s interest in larger aircraft has nothing to do with eventually replacing its fleet of 777-300ERs, but to cater to Emirates’ hub-and-spoke model operations out of its hub, Dubai, which is currently supported by the airline’s fleet of over 100 Airbus A380 aircraft, which is the largest passenger jet in the world. With the type’s production having ended in 2021, Emirates has been constantly asking Airbus and Boeing to build a high-capacity aircraft to cater to its capacity and growth needs.

The announcement of a potentially larger 777 grabbed enough headlines that old discussions were reignited, wherein previously, Airbus did consider making a stretched version of its largest twin-engined aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000. Considering that Airbus stated multiple operators are interested in a potential “A350-2000”, and that the A350 is already known for its ultra-long range capabilities, it is possible for the stretched A350 to still maintain its title as the “Long Range Leader” even after incurring a range penalty after the aircraft capacity has been increased.