Boeing 777-9 delivery behind schedule as certification delays continue, CEO says

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has announced that the company is behind schedule in certifying its new 777-9 widebody aircraft, describing the certification process still ahead as a “mountain of work”.  

Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference on September 11, 2025, Ortberg confirmed that the manufacturer is still working through a challenging certification process for the 777-9 aircraft, which is part of its 777X program. 

“We’re clearly behind our plan in getting the certification done,” Ortberg said. “It’s something that I’ve asked Jay Malave, who’s our new CFO, to spend some time, as we come through this quarter, really looking at this – the schedule slip and understanding what the implications are and our go-forward plan.” 

He said that no new technical problems have been found, but even a small delay in the 777X program “has a pretty big financial impact”, as the manufacturer has already taken on several billion dollars in losses related to the aircraft. 

“I will say the demand for the aircraft is fantastic. We’ve just got to get ourselves through the certification program, and a mountain of work is still in front of us,” he said, adding that there are five aircraft in the testing program. 

The 777X program has encountered several delays since its launch in 2013, as the company has worked to meet strict regulatory requirements for its service entry. 

In August 2024, Boeing discovered damage to the thrust link – a component connecting the engine to the aircraft structure – on its 777-9 test aircraft. This led to the grounding of the 777X test fleet and a suspension of flight testing while Boeing investigated the problem. 

Flight testing resumed in January 2025 after a five-month break, during which time upgrades and repairs were made to the current aircraft. Recently, Boeing conducted the test flight of the first newly constructed 777-9 in five years, representing a major achievement for the program. 

Currently the company anticipates delivering the first 777X jet in 2026, six years later than originally expected. 

In early August 2025, Cathay Pacific Airways placed an order for 14 additional 777-9 passenger jets, raising the total number of 777X aircraft ordered by customers worldwide to over 550. The post Boeing 777-9 delivery behind schedule as certification delays continue, CEO says appeared first on AeroTime.

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