Boeing 777X Nears Certification, Could Fly Passengers By Mid-2026

Boeing has had a rough several years, but could things finally be starting to look up for the aerospace giant?!

Basics of the Boeing 777X certification woes

For those not familiar, the 777X is Boeing’s newest version of the 777. It will come in two variants — the 777-8 and 777-9 — and the planes are more fuel efficient, longer range, and larger than existing 777s (and larger than 787s, which are also popular).

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With there clearly not being a market anymore for production of planes like the A380 and 747-8, this will likely be the biggest new aircraft we see manufactured for the foreseeable future (or possibly ever, given that future focus on aircraft development will likely center around efficiency rather than size). There are currently over 500 orders for the 777X, and many airlines are relying on the plane for fleet renewal.

The challenge is, Boeing has had major issues getting this plane certified. The 777X program started back in 2013, and the plane was supposed to enter passenger service in 2020. Currently, the expectation is that the plane will begin operations in 2026. What has caused this six year delay?

Well, a lot of factors, ranging from production issues, to engine issues, to certification issues, to the pandemic, to striking workers, to increased government oversight of Boeing’s work. It just seems like Boeing has been unable to catch a break, and with each passing year, the plane’s timeline has been pushed back by an additional year. Could that luck soon be changing, though?

Boeing 777X enters next certification phase

As recently reported by Jon Ostrower at The Air Current, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared Boeing to begin the next phase of its 777-9 certification, which focuses on system demonstrations.

Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) is the fourth phase of the certification program for the plane, and it marks one of the last steps before the aircraft can be certified. So this is material progress with the plane’s certification.

Furthermore, in the coming days, Boeing is expected to make its first maiden flight of a 777X in nearly five years, which will be Boeing’s fifth test aircraft. Again, this is huge progress.

Currently, the hope is that the jet will be certified by the end of 2025 or early 2026, with the first plane entering passenger service around the middle of 2026.

Of course anything can still happen before the plane is certified, but for the first time in years, it actually feels like progress has been made. This is also the first time since the start of the pandemic that I’ve felt like “oh, maybe passengers will actually be flying on this plane within the next year or so.” Or maybe I’m being naive, and forgetting that we’re talking about Boeing.

Why passengers should care about the Boeing 777X

There are currently well over 500 orders for the 777X, so the plane is popular, though not as popular as the A350 or 787, which are lower capacity while still being long range and fuel efficient. Emirates is the single biggest customer for the 777X, as the airline has 205 of these jets on order, and is using these to replace Airbus A380s, as those planes retire.

However, airlines like All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines, are also counting on this jet for fleet renewal, all with plans to make this their flagship aircraft.

As passengers, we should be excited about the 777X for two reasons:

• Many airlines have been forced to keep older planes around due to the 777X delays, so once the plane starts flying, we’ll hopefully be on quieter, more modern, and more fuel efficient aircraft
• Many airlines plan to introduce new flagship first and business class products on the 777X, and there should be some pretty spectacular new seats introduced

For example, Lufthansa has blamed much of its new Allegris cabin woes on delays with the 777X, since those seats were initially supposed to debut on that aircraft. That’s not exactly cutting edge, though we should see some stellar products introduced on other airlines.

For example, airlines like All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, etc., all plan to introduce brand new first class products on this aircraft. Perhaps the most anticipated is Cathay Pacific’s new first class.

While we don’t officially know anything yet, we have reason to believe that the product will be known as the “Halo Suite,” and that it could revolutionize first class as we know it. This product could be based on Paperclip Design’s Peacock Suites concept.

As an airline product geek, the 777X is the single most exciting plane we’ve seen since the A380, in terms of impact it will have on the onboard product.

Bottom line

After years of struggles, certification of the Boeing 777X is making material progress, as the aircraft is entering a new phase of testing. This will also see Boeing operate a maiden flight for a new 777-9 test aircraft for the first time in around five years.

The current plan is for the plane to be certified by the end of 2025 or early 2026, and enter passenger service by the middle of 2026. I sure hope this timeline sticks, as there are so many new onboard products that we should see introduced on this aircraft.

What do you make of the prospect of the Boeing 777X finally being certified??