The Boeing Company, established in Seattle in 1916, has a long history and reputation for ideating, designing, and manufacturing industry-leading aircraft and technologies. From their first jet aircraft, the Boeing 707, through to the giant that was the Boeing 747 family, and down to their smaller game-changing 737 family, Boeing has long been a name associated with quality and reliability. Recent years have presented challenges with this image. Other manufacturers have had a chance to catch up with, or even overtake, Boeing in some areas.
The Boeing 737 MAX troubles caused the company no end of reputational damage, alongside the financial damage and manufacturing delays, the latter having a key impact on their 777X program, which has seen issue after issue, delay after delay. But where is Boeing with their 777X program, and how many, if any, have they started building?
Boeing 777X Program
The Boeing 777X is the newest generation of the 777 long-range widebody jet family. The program was launched in 2013, designed as a more fuel-efficient and updated/improved replacement for the very popular Boeing 777-300ER. Boeing advertises a 20% lower fuel use and emissions compared to the older aircraft it replaces. The 777X is designed to have 10% lower operating costs than competing long-haul aircraft and features a significantly smaller airport noise footprint.
The first flight of the 777-9 occurred in January 2020, with assembly taking place at Boeing’s Everett, Washington, facility. The 777X is still in the test phase, seeking to obtain official Federal Aviation Administration certification. Reports suggest that flight-test aircraft have so far completed 1,200+ flights and more than 3,500 flight hours, with the first delivery expected in late 2027.
The anticipated delivery dates have been moved multiple times, with structural tests, engine issues, and certification requirements leading to additional redesign and inspections. Boeing has recorded multi-billion-dollar financial charges due to the program delays, with some airlines considering replacement orders if the manufacturer cannot start deliveries soon.
The Figures Behind The 777X
The Boeing 777X family is built around very strong efficiency metrics. Boeing claims that the 777-9 will deliver 20% lower fuel use and emissions compared to the aircraft it replaces, along with 10% lower operating costs than competing widebody jets. In addition, the 777X is designed for lower noise: a 40% smaller noise footprint than older models, which makes it more environmentally friendly in terms of both emissions and community impact.
In terms of size and capacity, the two main 777X passenger variants are big, even by widebody standards. The 777-8 has a two-class seating capacity of 395 and a range of 8,745 nautical miles (16,190 km), while the 777-9 can carry 426 passengers and fly about 7,285 nautical miles (13,500 km). Its wingspan is also remarkable: with the wingtips extended, it reaches over 235 feet 5 inches (71.75m), with the length measuring an impressive 251 feet, 9 inches (76.72 m).
|
Specification (Boeing) |
777-8 |
777-9 |
|---|---|---|
|
Passenger Capacity (2-class) |
395 |
426 |
|
Range |
8,745 nmi (16,190 km) |
7,285 nmi (13,500 km) |
|
Length |
232 feet 6 inches (70.86 m) |
251 feet 9 inches (76.72 m) |
|
Wingspan (extended) |
235 feet 5 inches (71.75 m) |
235 feet 5 inches (71.75 m) |
|
Wingspan (ground / folded) |
212 feet 9 inches (64.85 m) |
212 feet 9 inches (64.85 m) |
|
Height |
64 feet (19m) |
64 feet (19m) |
|
Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) |
365,150 kg (805,000 lb) |
351,550 kg (775,000 lb) |
|
Engine |
GE9X (2 ×) |
GE9X (2 ×) |
On the engine side, the 777X is powered by the General Electric GE9X, which is among the most advanced and efficient jet engines available. Boeing highlights that this engine, together with the new aerodynamics of the 777X, underpins the significant gains in performance and operating cost. These figures underscore why Boeing positions the 777X as a “growth-enabling” family: it offers airlines high capacity, long range, and improved economics, all while lowering the environmental footprint.
How Much Longer Are The 777X’s Wings Than The 777’s?
The new 777X will have a broader wingspan than the 777, but folding wingtips when on the ground.
Which Airlines Are Waiting For The 777X?
Many major legacy carriers are lined up for the Boeing 777X, despite its long and troubled certification timeline. 
Emirates is by far the biggest customer, with around 205 aircraft on order, split between 170 777-9s and 35 777-8s. The Gulf airline has publicly expressed frustration with the delays, having to retrofit parts of its current fleet to keep planes flying while it waits.
Qatar Airways is another major order holder, having committed to dozens of 777-9s (and options on others), making it a significant stakeholder in the program. Alongside these, European and Asian airlines such as Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), and Etihad also have firm 777X orders.
More recently, China Airlines joined the waiting list: in 2025, it placed an order for 10 777-9s plus 4 777-8 freighters, with additional options. While all these airlines remain committed, they are impacted by the repeated delays: Boeing has pushed expected first deliveries back to 2027, raising concerns for customers who have planned network and fleet transformations around the 777X.
How Many 777Xs Have Been Produced?
With the 777X still under testing and production not yet in full swing, how many of the aircraft have been produced so far? According to The Seattle Times, Boeing has so far built four test 777X aircraft for the flight-test program. Beyond these prototypes, the article reports that Boeing has already manufactured 22 customer-version 777X jets, which are currently parked and awaiting delivery.
In addition to those, around six more 777Xs are said to be in various stages of assembly at the Everett factory. These aircraft, built before certification, will need to be reworked after the flight-testing phase to incorporate any changes discovered during the certification process. Starting production prior will no doubt allow Boeing to make deliveries almost immediately after certification has been given. The image of production underway will also no doubt ease the worries of the airlines waiting for deliveries to commence.
With some aircraft produced or under construction, and with Boeing having flown its 777X test fleet more than 1,200 times, accumulating 3,500+ flight hours across a wide range of climatic conditions, a major part of Boeing’s push to satisfy FAA certification requirements, might we finally see some deliveries soon?
Why The Boeing 777X Will Evolve Long-Haul Flying
The aircraft features many new innovations from the older generation 777s.
The Main Competitor To The 777X
As delivery dates get pushed back and certification issues roll on, do airlines have another option besides the 777X? In short, yes. The Airbus A350 Family, specifically the Airbus A350-1000, presents itself as a direct competitor, designed to compete in the same “large, long‑haul twin‑aisle” market segment as the 777‑9. It may even offer an advantage over its Boeing counterpart. Airbus argues that the A350‑1000 offers lower weight and greater fuel efficiency per trip than the heavier 777X thanks to the use of advanced composite materials.
One area where the Airbus and the A350-1000 have a clear advantage is in production and deliveries. The first delivery of the Airbus A350-900 was to Qatar Airways on December 22, 2014, and the first Airbus A350-1000 was delivered to Qatar Airways on February 20, 2018. This gives the A350 family a clear head start over the 777X, a clear chance to prove its longevity, reliability, and viability before Boeing has even had a chance to make a single delivery.
As of September 2025, Airbus has firm orders for over 360 A350-1000s and has delivered over 100. Boeing, meanwhile, doesn’t even have an aircraft that is permitted to be operated. As time ticks on, every day the A350-1000 is able to prove itself without competition, the more risk it presents to Boeing.
What’s Next For The 777X?
Boeing’s immediate focus for the 777X is completing type certification, which has been delayed multiple times. The company now targets the end of 2025 or early 2026 for certification, but the first customer deliveries are expected in 2027. These delays have been costly, with Boeing taking significant financial charges related to extended development and production challenges. Meanwhile, the flight-test program is ongoing, with multiple 777X prototypes accumulating thousands of hours to satisfy FAA requirements.
Following certification, Boeing plans a gradual production ramp-up. The goal is to reach a combined 777/777X production rate of about four aircraft per month, but this is being approached cautiously to avoid repeat quality or structural issues. Several customer-version 777X jets are already built and waiting, while others remain in assembly, reflecting the careful balancing act Boeing is performing between meeting commitments and ensuring the aircraft meets all technical standards.
Airlines waiting for the 777X, led by Emirates, are watching closely. While Boeing has removed some orders from its backlog due to delays, committed customers remain optimistic but cautious. Successfully delivering the 777X on schedule could restore confidence in Boeing’s widebody program, while continued delays risk affecting future orders and the company’s competitive position against the Airbus A350‑1000 in the large, long-haul twin-aisle market.
