Emirates announced at the Farnborough Airshow 2026 that it will not accept delivery of 10 already constructed Boeing 777-9 aircraft. Airline CEO Sir Tim Clark explained that the modifications needed to update these older units to current standards would not be financially or operationally viable, humorously comparing their state to "cans of baked beans".
The airline insists on receiving only newly produced aircraft, built to final specifications and already FAA certified. Aircraft from the initial batch, produced between 2019 and 2020, became outdated due to program delays and necessary structural fixes. Bringing these planes up to final certification standards would require dismantling and rebuilding significant parts of the airframe and systems, a costly process.
One such aircraft, which sat idle in Seattle for six years, was dismantled and scrapped by Boeing, as updating it would cost tens of millions of dollars and not be financially worthwhile. Most of the structure (90-95%) is recovered for recycling or reuse of components, such as avionics systems and hydraulic actuators.
