The first production Boeing 777-9 completed its initial flight, advancing toward certification and delivery to launch customer Lufthansa. The aircraft lifted off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, marking a key step in the program’s test campaign.
This flight follows a nearly five-year gap since the last 777-9 test airplane flew, with the fifth test aircraft, designated WH286, taking off on August 5, 2025, at 11:03 a.m. PDT. That plane, in production configuration, now undergoes ground and flight tests focused on electromagnetic interference resilience and lightning strike compliance.
The 777-9 test fleet has accumulated over 4,000 hours of flight testing under varied conditions to verify design safety and reliability. Boeing targets first delivery in 2026, though recent updates indicate entry into service in 2027. Lufthansa anticipates receiving its aircraft around that time, despite contingency planning mentioned by CEO Carsten Spohr.
The 777X family, including the 777-9, 777-8 passenger, and 777-8 Freighter variants, holds 619 orders with no deliveries as of November 2025. The 777-9 offers seating for 426 passengers in a typical two-class layout and a range of 7,285 nautical miles, powered by GE9X engines.