Airline expects long-delayed aircraft to enter fleet next year
Emirates expects to receive its first Boeing (NYSE:BA) 777-9 aircraft during the second quarter of 2027, according to airline President Tim Clark, signalling that the programme is moving closer to its long-awaited entry into service.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Clark said the carrier is planning around deliveries next year as Boeing advances toward regulatory certification for the widebody aircraft.
Years of delays continue to weigh on rollout
The Boeing 777-9 programme has experienced multiple delays since its original timetable, forcing airlines to repeatedly revise fleet planning.
“We should have had the planes in April 2020,” Clark said, adding that it is “a stretch” to add them to the fleet in 2027.
His comments underline the scale of the delays that have affected one of Boeing’s most important commercial aircraft programmes.
FAA sees certification approaching
The updated delivery expectations come after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration told Reuters on Monday that certification of the Boeing 777-9 is expected either late this year or in early 2027.
Regulatory approval would represent a major milestone for Boeing, paving the way for customer deliveries to begin after years of development and certification challenges.
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