The initial launch of the 777X was scheduled for 2020, but challenges such as the pandemic, engine difficulties with the General Electric's GE9X engine, the 737 MAX crisis, and quality assurance troubles with the 787, caused significant delays. Despite Boeing posting a revised entry into service time of 2025, Emirates and Lufthansa have expressed concerns and shed doubts about whether the company will meet these targets.
However, a recent interview by Aviation weekly with the executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), one of the most important governing bodies closely inspecting the aircraft for certification, suggests that several roadblocks have been resolved.
This is a significant milestone for Boeing's certification program, and it provides a pathway towards eventual approval, although it will be a long and arduous process. Nonetheless, the adjustments and changes to the certification process have caused significant delays not only for Boeing's 777X but also for Airbus's A321XLR.
The certification of both aircraft has undergone significant changes since the 737 MAX incidents, with more scrutiny being applied to manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing and regulatory bodies such as the FAA and EASA.
The certification of both aircraft has undergone significant changes since the 737 MAX incidents, with more scrutiny being applied to manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing and regulatory bodies such as the FAA and EASA.
While certification delays are often manufacturer issues related to the aircraft itself, closer inspection from regulators may contribute to further delays. Nevertheless, the 777X is a promising new aircraft, eagerly anticipated by many in the industry, and despite the ongoing challenges, progress is being made towards certification.
You can read the Aviation Week's latest interview with the EASA director Patrick Ky here.
