Boeing 777X Order Coming

Boeing is nearing the placement of a new aircraft order for its upcoming 777X, per reports.

Turkish Airlines is the customer in question, according to recent comments from the airline’s Chair, Ahmet Bolat, discussions are ongoing for the acquisition of the new widebody.

Bolat all but confirmed a new order for the 777X is inbound, saying that once the right time arrives, they’ll move ahead with ordering the product, but are in absolutely no rush to place this order.

Therefore, the upcoming deal would once placed be yet another further boost to the long-troubled widebody program, which has repeatedly faced delays in its launch and remains uncertified as the end of 2025 approaches.

As for Turkish Airlines, their comments regarding interest in the 777X aren’t new, with previous reporting indicating the same; however, it now seems more concrete that a deal will go ahead, making it a matter of when rather than if.

Status On The 777X

Unfortunately for the 777X, October has been yet another month to forget for the program, with confirmation of another delay arriving.

Boeing, at the end of 2024, pushed back its launch timeframe for the aircraft from 2025 to 2026. This decision was one that many had long anticipated and came as no surprise.

Now, in October of this year, the very same thing has happened, that 2026 launch now no longer seems possible with Boeing adjusting its targets and expecting the early to mid part of 2027 as the timeframe for launch.

The latest delay will also result in a non-accounting charge ranging from $2.5 billion to as much as $4 billion. Although the final cost has yet to be determined, it highlights the ramifications of such a move.

What has now become yet another delay to the series is a common theme throughout the program’s time in the industry; the 777X has run seven years over the expected first delivery outlines by the time it launches.

An Expected Move For The Program

While a 2027 timeslot has frustrated onlookers and airlines, it never quite came as a shock, as many had argued the writing had been on the wall for some time.

In September, the planemaker’s Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Ortbeg, spoke at Morgan Stanley and said there was still a mountain to climb to obtain approval for the 777X, also admitting that they had fallen behind in that work.

During these comments, Ortbeg stated that they were also preparing for another minor schedule delay, but this was the first time such a status update had been recently provided.

While it’s imperative for Boeing to get the launch of the 777X right and avoid any output and quality challenges, it is equally important for the type to launch with customers sooner rather than later, which has not yet happened.

Boeing has repeatedly faced public frustrations from its airline customers over missed deliveries; these frustrations were led by Emirates, which is among the largest customers for the widebody and is set to rely on the type for future flying.

That timeline of delivery, which has continued to shift, has forced Emirates into a degree of caution. Not that long ago, the airline’s President, Sir Tim Clark, stated he did not expect the widebody to be on their passenger schedule until the end of 2027 or even into 2028.

While some confidence has re-emerged in recent months, the Dubai carrier would argue that with Boeing still unable to stick to a timeframe, it makes fleet planning and route planning nearly impossible.