Boeing is warning that some certification testing on its 777X programme may slip into 2027, even as it continues to target first deliveries that year. CEO Kelly Ortberg made the comments at a Morgan Stanley investor conference, linking the latest pressure to a GE9X engine seal issue and remaining ETOPS approval work on the Everett-built widebody.
The aircraft maker is still working through the certification path with FAA authorities, and the delay centres on the mid-seal problem on GE Aerospace’s GE9X engine. Boeing has not put a figure on the expected testing overrun, but Ortberg indicated the schedule could run past the end of 2026. That leaves the programme, already years behind its original plan, facing another stretch of uncertainty.
GE Aerospace has separately said redesigned GE9X engines are already being shipped and that approval of the modified seal is expected in the coming months. That suggests the issue remains contained rather than forcing a broader reset, although the 777X remains a key test of Boeing’s long-haul aircraft recovery and its competitive position in the widebody market.