Boeing 777X: Early planes need rework, one already scrapped

Boeing expects to certify the 777-9 in early 2027, with Lufthansa taking the first deliveries. That's about seven years behind the original schedule. But the delay isn't the only problem. Simple Flying reports that Boeing has already built roughly 40 777-9s since the type's first flight in 2020, and most of them need to be reworked before they can be handed over.

Design changes made during testing to meet FAA rules need to be applied to every plane already built. The extent of the work varies: newer examples need light changes, while older ones need substantial modifications. This process, called change incorporation, is common in aviation, but it can add weight and slightly hurt performance.

Some airlines don't want those early aircraft. Simple Flying says Emirates and Lufthansa have outright rejected their initial 777-9s, leaving several planes without buyers. Boeing is now stuck with what are often called white-tails, already assembled aircraft with no confirmed customer.

One of those rejected planes, line number 1611, was originally meant for Emirates. It never flew and had already been partially disassembled in 2025. Boeing eventually scrapped it, writing it off as part of a larger $15 billion in charges. Simple Flying reports the cost to rebuild the plane to current standards was so high that tearing it apart was the cheaper option.

United Airlines was rumored to have looked at the white-tails, but the carrier later said it isn't pursuing the 777-9. Simple Flying notes that these early planes come with a lower price and shorter lead times, but they also burn more fuel and would be oddballs in a fleet.

The situation echoes the 787's "Terrible Teens," early 787s that were several tons heavier than promised. Those planes eventually found buyers, and Simple Flying says the same could happen here. Still, with 777X being a heavily updated derivative of a decades-old design, the unexpected rework is more notable than usual.

For travelers, the practical takeaway is patience. The 777-9 will arrive later than planned, and the airlines that do get early examples may not put them on routes for a while. But once certified, the plane's new wing, folding wingtips, and GE9X engines should eventually show up on long-haul flights.

• 777-9
• 777X
• Boeing
• Emirates
• Lufthansa
• United Airlines