Boeing expects additional 777X testing to spill into 2027, although it is still planning to begin deliveries of the long-delayed widebody in 2027. Chief executive Kelly Ortberg linked the latest schedule pressure to certification work on the GE Aerospace GE9X engine, speaking at a Morgan Stanley investor conference in New York.
The update marks another setback for Boeing’s flagship long-haul programme, which remains years behind its original timetable. The company has yet to clear the ETOPS certification steps needed for extended overwater operations, and that work cannot start until GE completes the certification plan for the engine fix. Boeing has not revised its public delivery target, but the timing now appears tighter than previously suggested.
GE Aerospace has identified the mid-seal issue affecting the GE9X and has begun shipping engines with the improved part. The redesign is moving through a separate approval process, while Boeing continues the rest of the flight-test campaign. Lufthansa remains the first customer in line for the aircraft, underscoring the commercial impact of the continued delays.