One of Boeing’s most notable new aircraft launches is facing a new set of delays.
The planemaker’s 777X aircraft, which will be the world’s largest-ever twin engine plane, was on track to be certified by the FAA by the end of 2026. But now, FAA officials are delaying that important milestone in the plane’s rollout to sometime in 2027.
The delay on the 777X’s launch comes as Boeing is still working with the FAA to certify additional models of its embattled MAX aircraft, including the smaller -7 variant and the larger -10 MAX model.
“I think we’ll get the MAX 7 first, then followed by the -10 and hopefully the 777[X] early next year,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said during the CAPA Airline Leader Summit on May 28, according to a report from Aviation Week.
The 777X is being designed to be a larger model of Boeing’s current 777 planes, while also offering a longer range and more fuel efficiency. Boeing first launched its 777X project more than a decade ago, with plans for the first variant of the aircraft, the -9 model, to debut in 2020. But struggles at Boeing with certification have significantly delayed the plane’s highly anticipated launch.
There’s high demand for the newer, larger planes from airlines around the world. Some airlines have ordered the plane to replace older superjumbo jets like the Airbus A380. Emirates, for one, has ordered 270 of the 777Xs—the most of any carrier—and plans to use the new aircraft model for this purpose.
Several other international airlines have placed significant orders for 777X aircraft, including Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and All Nippon Airways.
Earlier in 2026, the 777X was making incremental progress, inching toward full certification by starting the fourth phase of its testing.
The first deliveries of the new aircraft were tentatively slated for sometime in 2027, but that timeline will likely be pushed back as well to accommodate the delayed certification timeline.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
