Boeing has again delayed the first delivery of its 777-9 widebody, now predicting the type will not enter service until 2027, rather than 2026 as previously expected.
The schedule shift, disclosed by the company when releasing its third-quarter financial results on 29 October, prompted Boeing to take a $4.9 billion charge, pushing it to a $5.3 billion third-quarter loss.
“We’ve adjusted our expectations for certification and now anticipate the first delivery of the 777-9 in 2027,” Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg says. “We are now moving forward with a higher-confidence plan and taking steps to improve our performance.”
In September, Ortberg had hinted another 777-9 delay was in the works, saying then, “We are falling behind on certification”.
Still, the third-quarter financial hit took some analysts by surprise. “We believe the magnitude of the charge at $4.9 billion is bigger than investors were expecting,” says a 29 October report from RBC Capital Markets.
The company’s $5.3 billion third-quarter loss compares to a $6.2 billion loss in the same period last year. Boeing generated $23.3 billion in revenue during the period, up 30% year on year, with the commercial aircraft unit bringing in $11.1 billion, up 49% year on year.
The 777-9 programme aside, Ortberg says Boeing has made substantial progress in other areas. It has “stabilised” 737 production at a rate of 38 jets monthly and recently received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to hike output to 42 jets monthly, though when Boeing will actually move beyond rate 38 remains unclear.
Also, the third quarter was the first since 2023 that Boeing generated positive free cash flow, Ortberg notes.
“We remain focused on the work ahead to complete our development programmes and stabilise our operations in order to fully recover our company’s performance and restore trust with all of our stakeholders,” he says.
Boeing has also significantly ramped deliveries and seen aircraft orders surge, seemingly driven partly by the influence US president Donald Trump has exerted on allies.
The manufacturer delivered 440 aircraft in the first nine months of 2025, up from 291 in the same period last year, and landed orders for 821 jets, up from 315 in the prior period.
The FAA also recently returned to Boeing authority to issue some 737 Max and 787 airworthiness certificates after having yanked those permissions several years ago due to quality and safety concerns.
Boeing continues working to achieve certification of its long-delayed 737 Max 7 and Max 10, which have been held up by factors including issues with the jets’ engine anti-ice system, which required a redesign to meet FAA airworthiness requirements.
“We’re moving forward with a solution set to address the engine anti-ice issue for the 737 Max airplanes,” Ortberg says. “We are following the lead of the FAA as we work to certify the suite of design updates.”
