Boeing's 777-9 programme continues to make steady progress through its certification campaign, achieving several key milestones as it advances toward first customer delivery in 2027, the planemaker said in a statement on Sunday.

The 777-9 flight test fleet has accumulated more than 4,800 flight hours across approximately 1,700 test flights, with 50 percent of the planned certification testing now complete. Two of the four flight test aircraft have completed their final layups, preparing them for the remaining certification activities.

The programme has also received the majority of its Type Inspection Authorizations (TIAs), with TIA 5 and the ETOPS-focused TIAs still pending. The full-scale fatigue test airframe has surpassed one complete design lifetime, demonstrating the aircraft's structural maturity ahead of entry into service.

Terry Beezhold, Vice President and General Manager of the 777-9 programme, said the team remains focused on securing the remaining TIAs, beginning ETOPS demonstration flights, and completing the remaining certification deliverables ahead of first customer delivery in 2027.

With each milestone achieved, the world's largest twin-engine passenger aircraft moves one step closer to entering commercial service.

Source: PR