In a significant milestone for the long-delayed program, Boeing is planning the first flight of a 777X aircraft designed for commercial service in April 2026, according to a company document seen by Reuters.
Currently, the company is performing fuel tests at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on the 777X ordered by Lufthansa, with engine tests scheduled for later in February 2026, according to a report by Reuters on February 3, 2026.
A Reuters reporter spotted the plane at one of Boeing’s fuel docks at Paine Field. According to the publication, the manufacturer declined to comment on the specific aircraft or the document.
This milestone follows a series of challenges for the program, first launched in 2013. The delivery of the 777X, which was initially anticipated for 2026, has been delayed to early 2027, as of October 2025.
These delays have had a significant financial impact on Boeing: in its third-quarter 2025 earnings report, the manufacturer recorded a $4.9 billion charge related to the 777X program, contributing to a loss of $7.14 per share.
Analysts had originally estimated 777X-related charges to be between $2.5 billion and $4 billion, but the actual reported loss was larger than expected.
Despite these challenges and delivery issues, several airlines have been placing orders for the Boeing 777-9, the first variant of the 777X, indicating strong long-term demand. As of mid-2025, the Boeing 777X program had more than 540 firm orders.
The most significant order came at the Dubai Airshow back in November 2025, when Emirates added 65 Boeing 777-9 aircraft, worth $38B, to its order book. The deal made Emirates the largest 777X customer to date.
Currently, with the Singapore Airshow 2026 taking place, no new orders for this model have yet been announced.