B777-300ERThe B777-300ER has basically a lock-in in its market segment. It has locked out Airbus' A-340 in this segment. The A-340 production line has basically ground to a halt, a victim of the B777 twin-engine efficiency and high fuel costs. The B777-300ER has also become a favorite B-747 replacement in many routes.
B777-300ER
B777-200LRThe new B777F is soon to go on commercial service with no competitors in its segment aside from maybe the significantly smaller A-330F that have yet to start assembly. Air France will be the launch customer.
B777FThe Boeing 777 series will stay on top of its game until the Airbus A-350XWB will start flying maybe in 5 years. Then, the B777-200 series on the low end will come under great pressure.
How will the Boeing 777 series cope with this threat?
For a B777NG, my 2 cents are:
1. Increase passenger count while maintaining range to lower seat-mile cost.
2. Increase engine efficiency and weight reduction using 787 technology.
3. Aerodynamic tweaks to reduce drag.
4. A new lighter and more efficient composite wing that can also be used later on a B777 replacement, assuming BWB design will not be used for this.
5. Use the B777 attic to increase passenger count.
6. Semi-virtual cockpit in the attic area to increase passenger count.
7. Two pilot concept to reduce pilot cost - UAV pilot technology assisting a human pilot.
8. Production process enhancements.
With a comparable seat-mile cost as the new A-350XWB but with a higher seat count and more spacious seating, the B777NG can hold the challenge until the B7107, the B777 replacement, comes on line.
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