Boeing 777X Testing Resumes, Delivery Scheduled for 2026

Boeing resumed its 777X testing campaign following a five-month hiatus. The break in testing was initiated in August 2024 after structural issues were discovered on one of the test aircraft, WH003. During a test flight in Hawaii, the aircraft sustained damage to the engine mounting components connecting the engines to the wings, specifically the pylon structure. Cracks in the pylon led to the grounding of all test planes in Boeing's fleet.

The issue was significant because the pylon components involved were not supplied by General Electric (GE), the provider of the GE9X engines powering the 777X. This prompted additional inspections of other test aircraft, revealing similar issues on two more planes. As a result, Boeing paused its certification flights to address the problem, emphasizing the critical nature of these tests for ensuring the aircraft's safety and airworthiness.

Boeing’s test flights resumed with WH003, which conducted a return flight from Boeing Field in Seattle to Moses Lake, Washington. No FAA officials were on board, as the 777X is still in pre-certification testing. 

The 777X, which is set to succeed Boeing's 777 model, has faced multiple delays. Initially, Boeing planned to deliver the first 777X to Qatar Airways in 2020, but that timeline has been pushed back multiple times due to various challenges. The current estimated delivery date for the 777-9 model is 2026, with the smaller 777-8 and a freighter version expected to follow later in the decade.

Despite these delays, Boeing has secured over 500 orders for the 777X from major airlines, including Emirates, which has placed an order for 170 aircraft, and Qatar Airways, with 60 orders. Other customers include Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. However, as of now, no US airline has placed an order for the 777X.