Boeing Has A New 777X Problem

Boeing’s 777X woes continue with a problem identified with the GE9X engines following fresh inspections.

Flagged by Kelly Ortberg during the planemaker’s earnings call, a new durability concern has been identified with the GE9X engines installed on the 777X.

Despite this new issue being flagged, the planemaker remains highly optimistic that the latest hurdle will not delay the planned delivery of the first model, set for 2027, after lengthy delays.

While coming with no further delays to the program, the latest snag is one of the many that have affected the 777X, which is normal for any new program that experiences teething issues, but one that’ll be highlighted tenfold as it approaches six years’ worth of delays.

Ortberg says he’ll now work closely with GE to better understand the root cause of the issue, what it entails, and implement the necessary corrective action to ensure these teething problems are firmly ironed out.

Boeing 777X Certification Progress 2026

Despite confirmation of another niggle surrounding the 777X and its GE9X engines, Boeing is steadily progressing towards formal approval of the new long-haul flagship product with an on-track 2027 first delivery and subsequent Entry into Service (EIS).

If a 2027 delivery is achieved, it’ll represent seven years’ worth of delay from the initial 2020 window, or near 14 years since the program was first announced. Despite this, Boeing has been making meaningful progress, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granting TIA Phase 3 for 777-9 flight testing late last year.

The 777-9 will be the first model to be certified, followed by the remaining two models, the 777-8 and the new dedicated freighter, 777-8F. The release timelines for both variants are reliant on their bigger brother.

Unfortunately, the certification process for the 777X, while now moving ahead, hasn’t been easy, from GE9X woes stemming from 2019 that repeatedly delayed the first flight to the FAA’s stricter certification scrutiny following two 737 MAX crashes at the back-end of the 2010s, to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last seven years have been troublesome for Boeing in more ways than one. While the 777X is its own program, it cannot escape what has impacted Boeing across this period: its delays, a culmination of years of neglect, circumstances outside its control and within it as well.

777X Delays: The Long-Standing Impact

The impact on delays varies depending on the party involved. For Boeing, the delays have not only led to $15 billion in program charges being confirmed, driven by an inability to get the program into the skies with airlines, but also brand complications.

For airlines patiently awaiting the jet, the impact has also varied. Emirates, a key customer for the aircraft, has now been waiting for 6 years, with the delays causing significant fleet disruption and forcing a multi-billion-dollar, much more rapid investment in retrofitting existing aircraft.

While the airline publicly criticised Boeing and at times threatened to cancel commitments, its frustration has led to repeated top-up purchases, likely with fantastic terms attached that would not be publicly disclosed.

However, on the other side is a business like Etihad Airways, which the delays in its deliveries have not impacted, still a ways out. With this peace of mind, they’ve been quiet on the topic; the difference is they can afford to be patient. For others, it’s not as simple.

German flag-carrier Lufthansa, the intended launch customer more than half a decade ago, has been walloped by delays and the forced retention of older, less efficient models. This has created brand inconsistencies and, as a result, hiked maintenance and operating costs.

Bottom Line: GE9X Problem Hits Boeing

Boeing has identified another durability issue with the GE9X equipped on the uncertified and upcoming 777X during recent inspections.

CEO Kelly Ortbeg has reassured that the latest finding should not derail the first delivery in 2027, which has been pushed back by seven years.

However, with airlines patiently waiting and the pressure building, the latest problem is one of many that have placed heightened attention on the jet.