Boeing Resumes 777X Flight Testing

Boeing suspended certification test flights for its 777X in August 2024 amid fresh problems; now, the program has resumed these test flights.

First reported by Aviation Week, the 777-9 has seen its certification program restart as part of continued efforts to get the new long-haul jet approved.

The 777X was first meant to enter service in 2020 after launching in 2013; however, in the mid-2020s, the aircraft has yet to operate a scheduled passenger flight and is not formally certified.

Boeing has not been aided by some of the most turbulent years of operation in its history, arguably resulting in multiple crashes, quality issues, leadership changes, and strikes.

Thanks to all these difficulties, much of the 777X’s focus hasn’t always been at the highest level, and when it has, it’s more often than not revolved around sorting out niggles with the program rather than progressing.

Issues in the certification program for this plane have been prevelant, whether related to Boeing, the GE9X engine or something external. Time and time again, the manufacturer has been forced to suspend progress to certification.

Moreover, that pathway to certification has arguably never been more challenging given the scrutiny now placed on upcoming aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

This heightened scrutiny comes from a feeling that Boeing had too much control over the approval of its jets in the past, with leniency given to the FAA thanks to its close relationship. This approach led to persistent quality issues, short cuts and eventually major incidents.

The FAA is therefore hellbent on not having this occur, and a knock-on effect is a certification program unlike any other that is far more rigorous and thus takes fundamentally longer to work through to put forward the best product and safest one at eventual launch.

Boeing was hopeful of achieving a 2025 first delivery of the 777X. However, airlines remained sceptical alongside industry analysts, citing the persistent delays that would make this unattainable.

Towards the backend of 2024, Boeing would eventually revise its forecasting, stating that a 2026 first delivery would be more likely to occur.

If all goes according to plan, however, this could result in some airlines only seeing the plane enter scheduled passenger services in 2027 after familiarisation periods conclude.

777X Customer Frustrations Continue

The delays have left a lot of customers frustrated by their inability to fly the next-generation aircraft, which is considered a game-changer.

These frustrations have been led by companies such as Emirates and Lufthansa, who are set to rely on the widebody to help grow their fleet but also remove some older, less efficient aircraft types.

The German flag carrier, as a result, has been forced to retain older, less efficient planes, which is having a knock-on effect on its finances and causing complications here.

Lufthansa now finds itself cutting costs where possible to stabilise and mitigate the impacts of delayed aircraft, which, while including the 777X, are not limited to this aircraft program.