Originally Posted by
Volume
What I was comparing were the 777X orders Boeing received during the last 3 years (20 Orders in Total in 2016, 2017, 2018), and the 777 "classic" orders (127 Orders in Total in 2016, 2017, 2018). So I was referring to recent sales, which should be an indicator of where the industry is heading. Not even talking about the number of interested operators...
I am afraid the time of the very large aircraft is over. Boeing might repeat the A380 experience with the 777X.
Boeing has had something of a fire sale on the 'classic' 777 the last few years in order to fill in the production slots prior to the 777X switch over - so operators could buy 777s much cheaper than springing for the X. So the numbers are not really comparable. While Boeing has not indicated when they'll stop producing the original 777, the big financial incentive to get the older model is no longer there. There are rumblings several operators considering placing 777X orders, but with first flight just a few months away, there's little reason to place an order before it's starts flying - when there will be hard data available on what the aircraft can do. It's a common pattern for new aircraft.
As for the 777X being too large, the 777-8X is only slightly larger than the 777-300ER (with better range). The smaller 777-200LR has not been a big seller.