Boeing has announced that the long-delayed 777X widebody passenger aircraft program will see its first deliveries postponed to 2027. The company recorded a financial charge of approximately $5 billion on its balance sheet as a result of the continued delays—posing yet another challenge for the U.S. manufacturer.
Positioned as the successor to Boeing’s iconic 747 and 777 models, the 777X has faced repeated setbacks in certification and production, causing years of postponements. Program costs have now exceeded $15 billion, and analysts note that the company’s financial stability remains under pressure. The delays also create market opportunities for Airbus’s A350, especially amid the current surge in international travel demand.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told investors in September that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking longer than expected to complete the aircraft’s certification process. The 777X was originally scheduled for airline deliveries in 2020, but despite the repeated delays, Boeing emphasized that strong customer demand and order backlogs for the aircraft remain.
