Boeing Says 777X Certification In 2026

Boeing expects to certify its long-delayed flagship 777X in the second half of this year.

Darren Hulst, the vice president of commercial marketing at the manufacturer, reaffirmed his belief that the aircraft should receive the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) all-clear later this year.

While Boeing may obtain the formal certification it has been waiting six years for, this doesn’t guarantee the aircraft will enter service in 2026.

The American planemaker still believes a 2027 entry into service (EIS) is the more likely outcome, as deliveries will first be required alongside crew familiarisation flights for airlines taking on the aircraft.

Key Boeing 777X Production Flight Test Coming

With renewed hope that certification will be achieved in the second half of 2026, Boeing has also scheduled April as a pivotal month for flight testing.

The American planemaker, as reported by Reuters, plans to conduct the first flight of a production 777X destined for Lufthansa in April this year.

Ongoing tests include fuel and, later this month, engine testing as part of plans to ramp up flight activities on the long road to certification, a goal the manufacturer hopes to clear sooner rather than later.

Boeing has labelled the decision as necessary to leverage a built aircraft that can complete flights without requiring flight testing, unique equipment, or instrumentation.

The Stakes Are High For Certification

For Boeing, certification in 2026 and a hoped-for entry into service sometime in 2027 are crucial; the stakes have never been higher for a program first announced in 2013.

Now, over a decade later, the plane remains without the all-important green light to resume scheduled passenger flights, let alone deliveries, and is now six years behind initial 2020 delivery estimates.

It’s imperative to meet this timeframe not only to protect patient airline customers and the bruised brand image of the planemakers, but also for financial reasons.

Boeing has been in a turnaround for years and has been financially strained. The certification of aircraft such as the 777X is crucial to supporting turnaround efforts and improving financial stability.

Charges totalling $15 billion have already been incurred on the widebody program, the most recent at the end of 2025 for $4.9 billion. Further delays not only risk impacting customers but also entail additional charges that Boeing cannot afford.