Cathay Pacific orders 14 more Boeing 777-9 as 5th test aircraft completes its maiden flight
August 6, 2025
Cathay Pacific has ordered 14 additional Boeing 777‑9 aircraft, expanding its total commitment to 35 units as part of a broader long-haul fleet renewal strategy.
The announcement coincides with a key development in the 777X programme: the fifth production aircraft completed its maiden flight from Paine Field on August 5, marking a renewed push towards certification and delivery.
Cathay Pacific’s growing Boeing 777X fleet
Cathay’s first order for 21 Boeing 777‑9s came in December 2013, shortly after the aircraft was officially launched at the Dubai Airshow. That event marked a record-breaking entry for a twin-aisle aircraft programme, with 259 orders and commitments announced on day one.
With the latest order, Cathay Pacific becomes one of the largest Asia-Pacific customers for the 777‑9.
Cathay Group Chief Executive Ronald Lam said the new aircraft would support both expansion and fleet renewal. “We plan to expand and renew our fleet with the additional 777‑9 aircraft, enabling us to continue our rich history of connecting the world with our Hong Kong hub.”
According to Boeing, deliveries of the new aircraft are expected to begin in 2026, though Cathay’s first aircraft is likely to arrive in early 2027.
Boeing welcomes 777X number five
On 5 August, Boeing’s fifth 777‑9 aircraft, registered WH286, took off from Paine Field for a 2-hour and 27-minute test flight, reaching an altitude of 39,000 feet and an airspeed of Mach 0.84.
The aircraft is a production unit, not fitted with data collection equipment, and its primary function is to test system resilience against lightning and electromagnetic interference.
The flight marked the first time in five years that a new 777‑9 took to the skies. Until now, Boeing has only flown the same four test aircraft.
Let’s fly!
— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) August 5, 2025
Our team successfully completed a first flight of a 777-9 today.
The pilots, along with system operators and flight analysts, completed a 2-hour, 27-minute flight profile to validate the airplane’s handling and performance.
More: https://t.co/Oop5A6aoFo pic.twitter.com/BJv3EyUBG1
Ted Grady, Boeing’s chief pilot for the 777‑9 programme, who was at the controls, described the flight as “seamless” and praised the condition of the aircraft.
“You could tell that the team had the airplane in excellent condition,” he said. “We’re expanding and growing and making progress.”
Boeing spokesperson Lori Gunter added, “The whole point of a first flight is to not be surprised. It’s really just exercising the airplane.”
The aircraft will undergo another local test flight before heading to Arizona for lightning certification tests.
When will the Boeing 777X be certified?
The 777‑9 is part of Boeing’s 777X family, which includes the 777‑8, the 777‑9, and the 777‑8F freighter. The programme has experienced significant delays, with development setbacks and intensified regulatory scrutiny following the 737 MAX incidents.
Formal certification flights resumed in January 2025, after a crack was discovered in a thrust link component in mid-2024. Boeing has since resolved the issue and is progressing through a series of test campaigns, with FAA certification now expected in 2026.
To date, Boeing’s four original 777‑9 test aircraft have flown over 1,400 flights and logged more than 4,000 flight hours.
The 777‑9 is the largest twin-engine commercial aircraft ever built and incorporates several new technologies. It is powered by the GE9X engine and features an extended composite wing with folding wingtips, designed for improved aerodynamic performance and airport compatibility.
Boeing claims the aircraft delivers a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, and a 40% reduction in noise, compared with the aircraft it is designed to replace. With a range of 7,295 nautical miles (13,510 km), the 777‑9 enables direct connections on ultra-long-haul routes, including Cathay’s global network out of Hong Kong.
The airlines waiting for 777X deliveries
The 777X programme has secured more than 550 firm orders to date. The vast majority of those – 439 in total – are the 777-9 variant, the first to enter service.
Alongside these are 43 orders for the smaller and ultra-long-range 777-8, and 59 for the freighter variant. The largest customers are:
- Emirates: 205 aircraft (including 777‑9 and 777‑8 variants)
- Qatar Airways: 90 confirmed, with 30 added in 2025
- China Airlines: 14 aircraft (ten 777‑9 passenger and four 777‑8 freighters)
- Lufthansa, Air India, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Etihad and others also hold orders.
Boeing expects the aircraft to complement existing 777 and 787 fleets, offering reduced operational costs and enhanced passenger experience.
For Cathay Pacific, the 777‑9 will eventually replace its long-serving 777‑300ERs, which form a key part of its current long-haul operation. The airline plans to deploy the new jets on both passenger and cargo routes.
