Boeing Undertakes Maiden Trial Flight for Singapore Airlines’ First Boeing 777X - Focus on Travel News

Boeing resumed test flights of its long-delayed 777X aircraft for the first time in nearly five years, with the first test flight for a Singapore Airlines’ launch aircraft at Boeing’s Everett facility near Seattle.

Boeing posted a short video clip of the test flight that took place on 5 August on its website. The test flight took less than three hours but this milestone raised hopes that the next generation twin-aisle aircraft will be able to enter service soon.

The renewed activity marks a major milestone in the 777X’s certification journey, with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorising Boeing to advance to the next testing phase, signalling potential entry into service hopefully by mid-2026.

The 777X flight-test campaign has involved four 777-9s and this is the fifth aircraft, and it is painted in all-white for now, before being transformed into the Singapore Airlines’ livery and it is speculated that it will long into the future with no set date.

The Boeing 777X family was originally slated to make its debut in 2019, but several challenges – ranging from technical and engine issues to the pandemic’s supply chain disruption – caused severe delays to the delivery timeline.

In October 2024, Executive Traveller reported that Singapore Airlines could be forced to once again push back the launch of its next-generation first class and business class suites, following Boeing’s confirmation that the long-delayed 777X jetliner will not be ready until 2026.

Singapore Airlines had signed up for 31 of Boeing’s 777-9 model which the airline said will revolutionise its Boeing 777 premium cabins.

Originally slated for delivery to Singapore Airlines in 2021, the programme has faced well-documented production setbacks that have pushed timelines back considerably.

More than 500 orders received but none delivered

Designed to offer greater fuel efficiency, extended range, and increased passenger capacity, the 777X has amassed over 500 orders since its launch. The 777X comprising the 777-8 and 777-9 variants, is the next-generation successor to the 777 family.

It does not mean that having a test aircraft being flown first will signify that this is the aircraft that will be delivered. With several launch airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific who may be ahead in the queue, this could now mean Singapore Airlines may not see its first 777-9 unit till 2027.

These airlines are relying on the aircraft for fleet renewal and the model is viewed as critical for long-haul operations over the next two decades.

Each airline faces a different degree of impact as the delivery schedule for its own jets moves further out. Any additional delays would further impact fleet plans for global customers.

Emirates, the largest customer with 205 orders, is replacing its A380 fleet with the new aircraft.

Cathay Pacific announced this week for a US$8.1 billion order of 14 more Boeing 777-9 jets in its first deal with Boeing in 12 years. The agreement also gives the carrier the right to buy seven more. It expects the aircraft to be delivered by 2034.

Cathay was one of the first buyers to commit to Boeing’s 777X programme when it unveiled the purchase of 21 aircraft in 2013. Boeing said the new deal brought the order book of 777-9 aircraft — “the world’s largest twin-engine airplane” — to 35.

Delay in upgrades of premium classes

Several airlines have had to delay the upgrade of its premium classes due the push back in the delivery dates of the 777X aircraft.

All-new cabin products across First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class were due to debut on Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-9, but the ongoing production delays led the airline to announce in November last year that it would in fact be retrofitting long-haul Airbus A350s that would now debut the latest First and Business Class products in an $865 million investment. These will be unveiled some time in 2026.

Cathay Pacific’s “Halo Suite” which refers to their upcoming first-class cabin, designed for the new Boeing 777-9 aircraft, has met with delays. Boeing 777X delays are forcing Cathay Pacific to strip out first class cabins without an immediate replacement.

Singapore Airlines’ new aircraft had testing roles before

This is not the first time for Singapore Airlines which has previously allowed both Boeing and Airbus to use aircraft destined for its fleet in testing roles which includes the 787-10.

In March 2018, Singapore Airlines welcomed the world’s first 787-10 aircraft as it was reported that the airline had ordered 49 aircraft, making the Boeing’s biggest customer for this aircraft variant.