Boeing's 777X Delayed: A Setback in the Sky

Boeing's 777X jet, initially set for commercial flight in 2026, is now rescheduled to 2027. Lufthansa, its launch customer, is adjusting fleet strategies accordingly. A delay in jet certification is cited, although no new technical issues have emerged as per CEO Kelly Ortberg.

Boeing's much-anticipated 777X jet, originally slated for commercial flights by 2026, will now take to the skies in 2027, according to Bloomberg News. The delay casts a shadow over the timeline for Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the jet's launch customer, which is already adjusting its fleet plans.

The new timeline represents a significant shift from the program's initial launch in 2013, which set expectations for a 2020 rollout. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg recently acknowledged the lag in certification progress, emphasizing the "mountain of work" still required to meet safety and operational standards. Importantly, no new technical difficulties have been reported.

This update emerges just six weeks shy of the Dubai Airshow, where the 777X made its public debut a decade ago. Boeing's delayed response to Reuters further fuels industry speculation about the jet's future competitiveness.

(With inputs from agencies.)