Today, Boeing has confirmed that it won’t be delivering its first 777-9 aircraft until late 2023. The first delivery was initially planned to have taken place last year. However, the program has faced multiple delays along the way.

Boeing has delayed the first 777X deliveries until late 2023. Photo: Getty Images

The first deliveries of the Boeing 777X had been planned to take place in 2020, although this didn’t happen. Last year Boeing confirmed that the aircraft wouldn’t be delivered until 2022. However, the program has now slipped again until late 2023. Recently Emirates’ President Tim Clark mentioned that his first 777X delivery could slip to 2024.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG is stepping back from a commitment to buy 14 Boeing Co. 777X wide-body jets valued at $6.2 billion as it slows fleet growth in an effort to cut capital spending and rein in. On Wednesday, the Lufthansa Group announced an order 40 more long-haul aircraft, increasing the order book to 72 long-haul planes. The Boeing 777-9 is the larger version in the new 777X family. Lufthansa has called a reality check on the debut of its Boeing 777X aircraft, with CEO Carsten Spohr recently telling staff at an internal company meeting that the airline's first Boeing 777-9 won’t realistically arrive before the second quarter of 2022, according to people in attendance, who asked not to be named discussing comments that weren’t publicly made. Lufthansa has made an adjustment to their Boeing 777X order, by pulling out of a commitment to purchase 14 of the larger 777-9s worth $6.2 billion. The announcement comes as the airline works to slow fleet growth in an effort to reduce capital and overcapacity. FS2004/FSX – Lufthansa Boeing 777-9X, registration D-ABZA (fictional repaint). Model by Hiroshi Igami. Features: dynamic flexing wings, body gear steering under 15kt above 1kt, nose gear stee.

Certification requirements delaying delivery

Boeing is now expecting to deliver its first 777X aircraft in late 2023. Given how far out this is, the American manufacturer isn’t specifying a more detailed time frame than this. Boeing pointed to several factors that led to its decision to delay the project.

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Firstly, Boeing cited “an updated assessment of certification requirements based on ongoing communication with civil aviation authorities” as a reason for the delay. However, they also mentioned, “an updated assessment of market demand based on continued dialogue with customers, resulting adjustments to production rates and the program accounting quantity.”

Lufthansa was due to be the launch customer of the 777X last year. Photo: Lufthansa

Finally, Boeing also mentioned “increased change incorporation costs, and associated customer and supply chain impacts.”

How will this impact customers

The delay will clearly impact customers who are expecting the aircraft. However, it could actually be a blessing in disguise for many, given the current circumstances. As Boeing mentioned, “discussions with its customers with respect to aircraft delivery timing” had impacted its timeline. Its major customers are likely to be onboard with the delay.

German flag carrier Lufthansa had been due to take the first of the 777-9 aircraft. Lufthansa has frequently revealed that it will need to make significant fleet adjustments to deal with the current crisis’s fallout. This has seen the airline sending many long-haul aircraft to long-term storage. Some of these may never return. As the airline isn’t using the aircraft it already has, it has no immediate need for new long-haul aircraft. Simple Flying has contacted Lufthansa for comment.

Boeing has said that 777/777X production will continue at a pace of two a month. Photo: Boeing

Emirates was also due to be one of the first airlines to take delivery of the 777X. It had previously told how it expected its first aircraft in 2023 or even 2024, suggesting that they were in on Boeing’s discussions.

British Airways was expected to take its first 777X in 2022. The delay will mean that British Airways won’t get its aircraft as planned, and maybe not until 2024. However, when contacted by Simple Flying, an IAG spokesperson declined to comment on the delay.

What do you make of the delay to the 777X program? When will the first 777X be delivered? Let us know what you think and why in the comments.

Lufthansa Boeing 777x Order

Article Source simpleflying.com