Boeing’s 777-9 program is entering a new stage of certification despite the latest postponement of its entry into commercial service. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope confirmed on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow that the manufacturer is beginning FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) Phase 3, marking the continuation of the extensive test campaign for the widebody jet. Pope emphasized that the company is “very, very disappointed” by the additional delay, but noted that the program is nevertheless progressing, with avionics and systems testing set to continue in the coming months.
Her comments come less than a month after Boeing announced that first deliveries of the 777-9 have been pushed to 2027, seven years later than initially planned. The delay surprised several operators, including Emirates President Tim Clark, who admitted he was left “a little bit miffed” upon hearing the news. Pope did not address Clark’s remarks directly but stressed that it is unacceptable for any customer to learn about delays in such a manner and that Boeing must ensure greater transparency.
According to Aviation Week, flight testing under Phase 3 will begin immediately after the WH001 test aircraft completes its appearance at the Dubai Airshow. Heather Ross, the lead pilot on WH001, confirmed that the team is moving on to a new set of evaluations, including stability assessments, controllability tests and “up and away” performance checks. She noted that the aircraft is undergoing several configuration updates, primarily related to the near-final version of the fly-by-wire control software.
Ross recently took part in several weeks of takeoff performance testing at Edwards AFB in California and emphasizes that the baseline 777-9 has shown itself to be very stable in flight. While minor refinements are still possible, she says the aircraft handles predictably and confidently, suggesting that the upcoming stages of certification should validate the expected performance.
The progress in 777-9 certification marks a key step in one of Boeing’s most significant development programs in recent decades—one that has been shaped by technical adjustments, regulatory requirements and communication challenges with major customers. Despite the repeated delays, Boeing insists that testing is intensifying and that the program is now entering a phase in which final results should confirm the aircraft’s readiness for the market by early 2027.
