Huge Emirates Boeing 777X News

Emirates has revised its forecast for the delivery of the first Boeing 777X, following years of public frustration.

Speaking at the ongoing IATA General Meeting, President Sir Tim Clark stated that Boeing had been making steady progress on certifying the upcoming 777X, as well as continuing to rebuild supply chains and production practices.

Driven by these adjustments, the expectation is that the first delivery of the 777X could occur between the second half of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027.

Ultimately, this revised timeline by Clark represents a major shift from the expectations laid out publicly just a few months ago, when it was announced that the 777X may not fly until late 2027 or 2028 at the earliest.

Despite the latest revision, Emirates is still weighing the option of caution, given the numerous instances where timelines have been put forward but not met. As a result, it remains essential for the carrier to strike a balance between optimism and caution.

Emirates has largely championed the public frustrations surrounding continued delivery delays and blame being placed on the supply chain; for this, the airline is tired of having to deal with it.

Boeing Makes Recent 777X Change

The positive feedback from Emirates, which marks a first in many years, follows Boeing making a necessary change to its 777X.

Aviation Week reported at the end of May that the 777X program had formally received the necessary fix to address a crucial issue.

The program was impacted in 2024 when test aircraft were parked during the certification process due to cracks being identified in the thrust links, which were sufficient to bring the program to a standstill.

These thrust links are crucial for transferring thrust from the engines to the structure of the aircraft. Boeing knew it needed to resume test flights, however, and eventually found a way.

However, after conducting extensive research, Boeing confirmed that it had implemented the necessary changes across the program and would continue to monitor the situation until the first delivery occurs.

Emirates’ Previous Frustrations

Emirates’ frustrations with the Boeing 777X have been well-documented, and it was only in February 2025 that reputable reporting emerged regarding a further delay in the 777X’s first delivery.

Emirates has just over 200 Boeing 777X jets on order. Therefore, the 777X will be crucial to its long-term fleet; however, despite this, its relationship with the program has been rather love-hate.

The Dubai-based carrier has continued to be outspoken about the program’s struggles and its impact. Substantial delays have necessitated adjustments to routes, retirements, and growth.

Despite these frustrations, Emirates has placed additional orders for the 777X. Analysts argue that the airline used its frustrations to obtain a better contract for what remains a good aircraft, despite issues that have plagued it.