Emirates Says Boeing 777X Delayed Again

Emirates is preparing for another delay in acquiring the Boeing 777X after six years of persistent delays.

A report by Bloomberg News indicates that the airline is currently forecasting jet deliveries to arrive no earlier than mid-way through 2027, Q2 of this calendar year.

The substantial delays follow a recent delay announced by Boeing. The company previously targeted a 2025 approval but scrapped these estimates and said a first 777X delivery would be more likely in 2026.

Lufthansa was also announced as the launch operator, and Emirates is likely to follow; however, if the first delivery occurs in 2026 and the Dubai-based carrier estimates a Q2 2027 delivery, further unannounced delays to the program may occur.

Since the beginning of the 777X delays, Emirates has been cautious about allowing the aircraft to enter service. As part of this careful approach, the airline has hesitated to include this jet in route planning.

While Boeing most recently reaffirmed its stance that delivery would occur in 2026 alongside an upcoming certification, Emirates is not forecasting an arrival or certification around this period.

Suppose Emirates is already beginning to express caution about the currently active timeline for delivery of the 777X. In that case, some may then believe there’s a chance more airlines will follow, given Emirates’ persistent cautious nature.

While Emirates expects the 777X to arrive as soon as possible, by Q2 of 2027, this doesn’t mean it solely plans for the jet to be delivered during this timeframe; it also forecasts a worst-case scenario.

As part of its current forecasting, the airline is also planning for the delay of delivery until 2028 if the theme of project delays and instability at Boeing continues.

If a 2028 delivery were achieved, this would represent an eight-year delay, not factoring in the crew familiarisation period that airlines must undertake when taking on a new aircraft series for the first time.

Eight years of delays are catastrophic and can highlight the tumultuous last decade at Boeing, which has seen its position as a leader in aircraft manufacturing slip quite considerably.

Emirates Love-Hate Relationship With The 777X

Emirates has just over 200 Boeing 777X jets on order. However, its relationship with the planemaker and aircraft type is love-hate.

The Dubai-based carrier and its President, Sir Tim Clark, have been outspoken about the program’s struggles and its substantial impact on the airline as a business.

Substantial delays have forced the scheduling of routes, retirements, and growth to change dramatically, impacting financial performance. Moreover, the delays have been persistent, and timelines have not been stuck, making planning challenging.

Despite these frustrations, Emirates has returned for more orders, purchasing 777X jets. Analysts argue that the airline used its frustrations to obtain a better contract for a solid aircraft that, on paper, has just been plagued by difficulties.

At one point, Emirates publicly threatened to cancel part of the deal if delays continued. Those delays have continued, but a formal cancellation has yet to occur.

Onlookers argue that Emirates is in a position where the 777-9 is the perfect aircraft for it, and while the A350-1000 exists, its sights are set on leveraging the 777-9 capabilities; thus, it remains stuck with this aircraft through the highs, but also the colossal lows the program has experienced.

This love-hate relationship continues today in the mid-2020s, and paired now with the knowledge a first delivery may still be many years away, it will only increase internal frustration at Boeing’s inability to deliver planes on schedule, let alone get them certified.

To combat these delays, Emirates has been spending billions on rapidly retrofitting its existing fleet to ensure that even older aircraft can still be considered up to the highest standard.