Boeing 777X Certification Timeline Slides Toward 2027 as FAA Focuses on MAX

The certification of the Boeing 777X is expected to slip further into 2027 as the Federal Aviation Administration prioritizes completing certification work on the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 variants. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford indicated the widebody program will follow the narrowbody work, according to reports from Airways and IBA Group.

Despite the timeline pressure, the program continues to log technical milestones. Leeham News reported June 7, 2026, that Boeing received FAA approval to proceed with Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) Phase 4B flight testing on the 777-9 — a meaningful step forward in the certification sequence.

Program Impact and Outlook

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has acknowledged the schedule pressure, stating, "We're clearly behind our plan in getting the certification done." The 777X program has faced repeated delays since its 2013 announcement; first deliveries were originally targeted for December 2019. In October 2025, Boeing moved delivery expectations to 2027 and recorded a $4.9 billion pre-tax charge against the program. With 624 orders on the books — including those from launch customer Lufthansa — the aircraft remains strategically critical for Boeing, even as analysts warn the ongoing delays may hand Airbus a competitive edge in the long-haul widebody market.