I'm too lazy to dig up the reference, but I remember reading an analyst report within the last couple of months discussing Boeing's problem with filling the 777 production line before they start producing the next generation 777. There would have to be quite a few layoffs at Boeing if they couldn't sell some more current generation 777s before the next generation started to be built. The upshot of the article was that the major airlines were licking their chops, just waiting to be offered brand new (current generation) 777s for fire sale prices.
I'm cautiously optimistic that there will be a new order announcement with rapid delivery times during UAL's earnings call next week. However, my concern with the 777-300 is that it won't fit in our LAX gates.
This isn't the exact article I read but it's of similar vein:
Boeing Is Cutting Down on One of Its Biggest Cash Cows | Fortune.com