The Boeing 777X aircraft deliveries are likely to be delayed until early 2025, a person close to the matter told Reuters on April 22, 2022.
Boeing had earlier said that it expected the 777X certification in the final quarter of 2023, with the first delivery before the end of that year.
Emirates, the largest customer of the 777X, has repeatedly criticized Boeing over delays to the 777X. Initially, Emirates was due to receive its first 777X in June 2020, but Emirates CEO Tim Clark has previously said that he expects the jet will no longer be available until 2024.
Boeing 777X, the new generation of the 777 family, was launched in 2013, accumulating about 300 orders during the years that followed. However, after numerous problems and delays, the first prototype conducted its first flight in January 2020.
The 777X family, comprising the 777-8, 777-9, and 777-10 variants, is intended to replace earlier models of the 777, as well as compete with Airbus widebodies, such as the A350 aircraft.
“Building on the best of the industry-leading 777 and 787 families, the 777-9 will be the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, delivering 10% better fuel use, emissions and operating costs than the competition,” Boeing commented earlier in 2021.
The Boeing 777-9 variant has the capacity to carry up to 426 passengers. It also boasts a range of 13,500 kilometers (7,285 nautical miles), according to Boeing data. Meanwhile, the smallest variant of the 777X family, the 777-8, has the capability to accommodate up to 384 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. The 777-8 variant has a range of 16,170 kilometers (8,730 nautical miles).
The Boeing 777-9 variant was showcased at the Dubai Airshow 2021 and the Singapore Airshow 2022.
In late January 2022, Boeing has launched the highly anticipated freighter version of its 777X aircraft with an order from Qatar Airways.