Boeing promises “new era” of transparency as Emirates airs 777X delay concerns

Dubai: Boeing is undergoing a major cultural transformation based on transparency, engagement and humility, its commercial chief Stephanie Pope declared ahead of the Dubai Airshow.

“This is a new Boeing,” said Pope, “It is unacceptable to me for any of our customers to be surprised.”

Referencing a renewed relationship with key Gulf partners, Pope described Emirates as “an incredible partner—especially on the 777 programme. Our goal is to be transparent and walk them through every detail of our progress.”

She explained that lessons learned from previous crises and feedback from major customers were now shaping Boeing’s day-to-day business. “There’s always a lesson to take away from every interaction. Transparency is now the standard for Boeing.”

“Our goal is to be as open as possible,” she said, adding that “it’s unacceptable for any customer to be surprised," (to learn news about their aeroplane from the media first). Boeing and its French competitor Airbus have faced criticism in the past from some major airlines for communication gaps.

Pope’s comments came as Emirates President Sir Tim Clark publicly criticised Boeing for announcing new 777X delivery timelines via the media instead of directly to its largest customer. Clark described himself as “a little bit miffed” at learning the first 777-9 delivery had slipped yet again, this time to 2027—pushing back handover by at least a year.

“There was never any hint that they would make an official pronouncement that 2027 was to be the delivery year,” Clark told media on the sidelines of the APG World Connect in Spain,

Emirates had planned to receive its first 777-9 this October, but now faces more uncertainty for its highly customised fleet.

Clark, whose airline has 35 777-8s and 170 777-9s on order, said all their suppliers have been “busting a gut” to outfit Emirates’ bespoke interiors, with no clear delivery date in sight.

Pope emphasised that Boeing’s future hinges on stable production and genuine engagement: “Meeting demand is not the issue—it’s about working closely with customers to share updates honestly and address any concerns.”

With over 800 orders in 2025 and nearly 6,000 aircraft in the backlog, Boeing is “resetting” supplier relationships to create resilience and avoid prioritising speed over reliability, she said. “Getting it right at pace is better than going fast.”

Pope said Boeing was adding production capacity to make its manufacturing “more resilient” to disruptions. “We’re in a very dynamic industry,” she said. “Our job is to deliver safe and quality aeroplanes on time—and to do that, we need the ability to absorb shocks.”

Boeing has stabilised production at 42 aircraft a month for the 737 and 8 per month for the 787, she said, noting that going faster “before the system is ready” risks setbacks. “Getting it right at pace is more important than going fast,” she added.

Pope acknowledged Boeing’s long delays in certifying new models, including the 777-9, 777-8, and 737 MAX 10. She said the certification process had become more complex after the MAX accidents, but insisted that “progress around efficiency” was visible.

“There was a lot of back and forth in the early days, learning new requirements,” Pope explained. “But both Boeing and the FAA have learned a lot, and we’re seeing real improvement.”

Pope also addressed questions about Boeing’s role in the Air India Express accident investigation. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those affected and the airline,” she told Gulf News. “We are fully cooperating with the Indian authorities, but as per Annex 13 protocols, we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.”

She added that the 787 fleet “continues to perform strongly,” with support for airline customers “remaining strong.”

Asked whether Boeing is now a different company after years of crises, Pope said she believes it is. “All companies learn from their past. I hope what you see is a humble company—proud of its history but aware of its mistakes,” she said.

“When it comes to innovation, Boeing will continue to lead. We’re an aeroplane company—innovation is in our DNA.”