Boeing’s 1st production 777X aircraft is now in flight testing
May 8, 2026
Boeing has completed the first flight of a production-standard 777-9 aircraft, which is destined for Lufthansa.
The flight is a step forward for the long-delayed 777X programme, with the planemaker slowly inching towards certification and eventual customer deliveries.
Tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed the aircraft departing Everett’s Seattle Paine Field in Washington on 7 May.
Production 777X completes test manoeuvres over Seattle
The widebody carried out a series of test manoeuvres in the skies to east and southeast of Seattle, reaching 39,000 feet, before returning to Paine Field approximately three hours later.
The first flight is supporting certification, since regulators require testing with a delivery-configured production jet.
The aircraft was operating under the registration N20080 and manufacturer serial number 1781.
Boeing has a production 777-9 in the air for the first time. This will be delivered to Lufthansa, which has 20 total 777-9 orders. https://t.co/d5f8ax65NS pic.twitter.com/AEo9NSC0oN
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) May 7, 2026
Earlier this year, rumours suggested the first production flight would take place in April, although the timeline slipping a week into the May is a minor delay when viewed within the context of the overall programme, which is running at least six years behind schedule.
The jet is expected to become the first 777-9 delivered to Lufthansa, which remains the launch customer for Boeing’s largest twin-engined aircraft.
Images circulating online following the flight showed the aircraft still painted in Boeing’s green protective primer rather than the Lufthansa livery. The anti-corrosion coating is applied to all aircraft’s aluminium fuselage during production and assembly.
777X programme continues after years of setbacks
Originally expected to enter commercial service in 2020, the 777X family has encountered a series of delays that have held back its certification, and production.
Boeing has been forced to pause flight testing at various stages and has faced increased scrutiny in the wake of the 737 Max crisis.
In one instance in 2019, Boeing suspended load testing of the 777X after a cargo door failed in a ground stress test.
General Electric engine problems have also hampered efforts to get Boeing’s latest widebody into the sky.
In 2024, Boeing grounded its entire test fleet comprising four 777-9 aircraft to inspect a “structural component between the engine and the airplane structure” which was found to be faulty during a routine examination.
The problem centered on cracks in the engine thrust links, which connects the GE9X engine to the wing.
But progress on certification testing has been made and last month one of Boeing’s 777X aircraft completed a maximum-energy brake test at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
The test has pilots perform a high-speed rejected takeoff, with the aircraft loaded to its maximum weight, pushing the jet’s braking system to the limit and generating extreme heat.
The manufacturer is now targeting first deliveries of the 777-9 to the German flag carrier in 2027, although the schedule remains subject to change.
Despite the production flight test, uncertainties remain. GE Aerospace is analysing a potential durability issue involving a seal in the GE9X engine, which could require redesign or retrofit work during maintenance. Boeing leadership maintains that deliveries can still begin in 2027.
Industry desperate for next-gen widebody
The 777X is intended to succeed Boeing’s current-generation 777-300ER and compete against Airbus’ A350-1000 in the long-haul widebody market.
It is also being sought by the world’s largest operator of the Airbus A380, Emirates, who is seeking a future replacement that offers the range and capacity to broadly match the superjumbo.
The 777X incorporates a redesigned composite wing with folding wingtips, new General Electric GE9X engines and a wider cabin derived from earlier 777 variants.
Boeing says the aircraft will deliver significant reductions in fuel burn and operating costs compared with older large widebody jets, at a time when airlines are increasingly focused on efficiency and fuel prices are surging.
Lufthansa positioned as launch operator
In 2025, Lufthansa was confirmed as the launch customer for the 777X, ending speculation that Emirates may steal that spot.
Lufthansa currently holds orders for 20 aircraft, while Emirates has an impressive 270 Boeing 777Xs on its orderbook.
“Flying a young and modern fleet with innovative cabin products has always been a cornerstone of Emirates’ strategy, and we look forward to continue working closely with Boeing to receive delivery of our first 777-9s from Q2 of 2027,” said Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates, lsat year when the airline upped its order.
The German carrier originally planned to introduce the type several years ago as part of a broader long-haul fleet renewal strategy.
Delays to the programme forced Lufthansa to retain older aircraft longer than anticipated, including the Airbus A340s and Boeing 747-400s.
Featured image: Dubai Airshow
