The Most-Used Boeing 777s In The World By Flight Hours

Since the Boeing 777 first began flying commercially with United Airlines on June 7, 1995, the aircraft has been the backbone of long-haul aircraft fleets for many airlines across the globe. Being one of the highest-capacity twin-engine and twin-aisle aircraft that have entered the market, airlines have utilized the efficiency and operational capabilities of the aircraft.

Having first entered service more than 29 years ago, some Boeing 777 airframes have served their airlines for more than two decades. The best example of this could be United Airlines, which has some Boeing 777s that are more than 29, even 30, years old, with the latter aircraft having operated their first flights in July 1994.

The oldest of legacy 777-200ER operators

However, being the oldest 777 airframe does not mean that it will have the most flight hours. According to ch-aviation data, Austrian Airlines and British Airways operate the top five 777s with the most flight hours (FH), all of which are the 777-200ER variants. To note, the data involves only active passenger aircraft, meaning that stored, scrapped, or converted 777s, including 777F freighters, would not be relevant to the following data.

Despite operating some of the oldest 777s, Austrian Airlines was still keen to run its 777-2000ERs through their paces while operating long-haul routes on behalf of the de facto flag carrier of Austria, part of the Lufthansa Group. Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that the airline has scheduled 34 weekly departures out of Vienna Airport (VIE) with any 777 aircraft in July, one fewer than during the same month in July 2023.

Photo: Austrian Airlines

However, as they age, Austrian Airlines will begin replacing its six 777-200ERs with the Boeing 787-9, of which it currently has two. For example, while in July 2023, a 777-200ER operated the airline’s flight from VIE to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), in July 2024, the airline has now switched the route’s aircraft to Boeing 787-9, Cirium data showed.

Ch-aviation data indicated that Boeing delivered the pair of 777-200ERs, registered as OE-LPA and OE-LPB, on September 24, 1997, and September 28, 1998, respectively. The site’s records also showed that these were the 87 and 163 Triple Seven airframes that Boeing had built.

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777-200 operators with the oldest airframes

However, airlines still flying the oldest 777s typically fly the 777-200, which, on average, were much older aircraft, according to ch-aviation data. While the 777-200ER and the 777-300 averaged an age of 22.9 and 23.6, respectively, the 777-200 averaged 26.7, making it one of the older Boeing products that are still being flown commercially.

Photo: Kent Raney | Shutterstock

At the same time, there are only 22 active 777-200 aircraft, with 19 of them being operated by United Airlines. MaxAir, a Nigeria-based airline, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) operate the remaining active 777-200s.

However, N777UA is not the oldest 777 that United Airlines operates. That title would go to N774UA, a 777-200 that Boeing delivered to the airline on March 29, 1996, with the aircraft completing its first flight on July 15, 1994. Meanwhile, the manufacturer delivered N777UA to the airline on May 15, 1995, after the 777-200 operated its first flight on April 25, 1995.

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Small fleet of active Boeing 777-300s

Meanwhile, airlines across the globe still operate 27 777-300 aircraft, with an additional ten that were marked inactive by ch-aviation. Carriers operating the type include Cathay Pacific, ANA, Rossiya, Korean Air, Southwind Airlines, Air Peace, and Alexandria Airlines, an Egypt-based airline with two aircraft, with the other being a Boeing 737-500.

While data for ANA and Cathay Pacific’s 777-300 FHs was unavailable, Korean Air’s four active 777-300 had the most FHs, starting with HL7534 that has 80,243 FHs, and ending with HL7532 that has 87,061 FHs.

Photo: Sudpoth Sirirattanasakul | Shutterstock

Korean Air could replace these aircraft with either the Airbus A350, an order for which it finalized in March, with the South Korea-based carrier purchasing 33 aircraft of the type, split between six A350-900 and 27 A350-1000, or the 777X.

The airline was rumored to be eyeing an order for between 20 and 30 777X aircraft, which could be announced as soon as the upcoming Farnborough International Airshow. The trade event will happen between July 22 and July 26, allowing Korean Air to bolster its backlog to replace the aging 777-300s.

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