Cathay Pacific Says 777X Delayed

Cathay Pacific, a customer expecting the upcoming 777X to help renew its fleet and grow into future decades, is forecasting fresh delays to the program.

Based on Boeing’s most recent guidance on the certification process, the Hong Kong-based carrier was expected to take delivery of its first 777X in 2026.

However, alarm bells began ringing when Emirates confirmed that it didn’t expect to take delivery of the 777X until mid-way through 2027, at best, with a worst-case scenario presenting first delivery sometime in 2028.

At the time, Emirates was the first carrier to publicly unveil further scepticism over the delivery timeframe recently provided by Boeing for the upcoming 777X, which confirmed recently a 2026 first delivery would be most likely after abandoning 2025 launch efforts due to certification complications.

When publishing its 2024 annual results, Cathay Pacific confirmed in its fleet profile table that the delivery of the 777-9, the only unit it has committed to in the series, is scheduled for 2027 and beyond.

This fresh timeline thus abandons hope of a delivery in 2026. It leaves the door firmly ajar for the aircraft to not even launch into the airline’s operations by 2027, representing a staggering turn of events that has become all too familiar for airlines across the industry.

The arrival of the 777X for Cathay Pacific has long been considered essential for its renewal efforts. The company is looking towards rebuilding itself as a business following a turbulent first half of the decade and even struggles in the 2010s.

However, because of ongoing certification woes and much more, Cathay Pacific has been unable to take delivery of the 777X on time. With so much uncertainty over when this jet will be delivered, fleet retirements, growth, and renewal are even more complicated than first imagined.

What’s Happening To The Boeing 777X?

Expected to launch in 2020 initially, the Boeing 777X has had a turbulent last six to seven years with problem after problem impacting its ability to begin scheduled passenger services.

From concerns surrounding the powerful and sizeable GE9X engine to other woes, the planemaker has struggled considerably to get the new aircraft to market, which is now impacting airlines.

Now, airlines must rethink what year-long delays to first delivery look like, given the realisation that the 777X may not enter service once crew familiarisation occurs until 2027, permitting no further pushback.

If the first entry into service were to then occur in 2027, this would represent a catastrophic seven-year delay for the widebody aircraft type. While delays are entirely expected for aircraft such as the A380 and even the A321XLR, seven years is excessive, especially considering the reasoning behind it.