Lufthansa To Receive First Boeing 777X

Boeing has confirmed that Lufthansa will be the launch operator of its upcoming 777X once certified in fresh comments.

The American planemaker hopes the aircraft will be delivered to the German flag carrier in 2026 at the earliest, with a likely EIS possibly slipping to 2027 after the crew familiarisation period concludes.

Ultimately, this would represent a nearly six-year delay from when Boeing was first forecasted to deliver the 777X. However, significant delays have thrown the program many curveballs that the planemaker has struggled to overcome.

In October 2024, after much pressure from analysts and airlines, Boeing confirmed what many had expected. The first delivery for the 777X will be delayed from 2025 to 2026.

However, a decision from Boeing concerning the first delivery also ended speculation surrounding who would be the launch operator of the aircraft, with either Emirates or Lufthansa reported as the likely suitors for the first 777-9.

Lufthansa is committed to 20 of the 777-9 jets, with the high-capacity next-generation plane expected to help fleet renewal efforts and pave the way for older, less efficient quad-engined planes to retire.

These quad-engined planes have been stuck in the airline’s daily fleet longer than may have initially been forecasted due to an inability to deliver planes such as the 777X on time.

Ultimately, these delivery delays, while heightened by certification troubles for the 777X, have not strictly involved this program.

Lufthansa has faced persistent delays from Boeing with other programs and Airbus with their A350, affecting the business.

With that being said, Lufthansa has also faced challenges with the implementation of its desired cabin product. Supply chains have been damaged since the pandemic, and seating has been hit hard.

Kelly Ortberg, Boeing CEO, discussed the seat challenges and stated that the 787 Dreamliner’s new business and first-class seats have still not received their FAA certification.

Furthermore, this also trickles down to the upcoming 777X, which has a more complex cabin and thus presents more challenges when certifying the aircraft. However, Boeing is committed to working through these issues for its deliveries.

Boeing Targets 2026 Delivery For 777X

Kelly Ortberg, the new CEO of Boeing, firmly believes that while the delays to aircraft have been frustrating, they will slowly come to an end, and delivery in 2026 for the aircraft remains the target.

Moreover, Ortberg confirmed that Boeing was working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration to work through the program’s certification challenges.

No further update is being provided on the delivery timeframe; Boeing is working through the issues and has learned much recently. It feels better positioned to navigate the next 12 months successfully, which would facilitate delivery.