Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777F Courtesy: Paul Bannon

A day of Emirati Boeing 777 firsts at Dublin and Shannon Airports as Dublin Airport hosted two first Boeing 777-300ER visits from Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways, and the first visit of Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777F at Shannon Airport.

This morning Emirates Airlines UAE161/2 operated by A6-EGI Boeing 777-31H(ER) construction number 38986, a first visit and the 70th different 777 to operate Dubai to Dublin service.

Etihad Airways morning service from Abu Dhabi to Dublin ETD045/2 was operated by newly delivered A6-ETQ Boeing 777-3FX(ER) construction number 41700. The aircraft first flight 28th August and delivered Paine Field to Abu Dhabi on 27th September, entering service 30th September as ETD1 to Frankfurt.

One our readers Jacob Struben noted the aircraft overhead Ireland on 19 October, eastbound off the Atlantic and trailing en-route Chicago O’Hare to Abu Dhabi.

Shannon Airport hosted the first visit of an Emirates SkyCargo A6-EFJ Boeing 777-F1H construction 3560 UAE4987, it departed Amsterdam at 1507 and touched down in Shannon at 1636, its route took it north of London over Harlow towards Gloucester then Sturmble over Wexford Cashel North of Limerick for a 24 landing.

The aircraft departed Shannon at 1858 for Los Angeles (LAX). A6-EFJ Hex code 896170 was delivered 19th December 2012 and is leased from Dubai Aerospace Capital.

Etihad Airways recently completed a transaction to acquire five Boeing 777-200LR’s from Air India and is due to take delivery of a further three Boeing 777-300ER’s by year-end.

Both Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways are reportedly in negotiations over a potentially substantial orders for Boeing’s Boeing 777X to replace the current model and growth, deals that could come as early as next month’s Dubai Air Show.

Thanks to Paul Bannon & Paul Looby for their assistance with this article.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 28th October 2013 All Rights Reserved.