Boeing’s 777X is slated to fly commercially for the first time in early 2027 instead of next year, people familiar with the matter said, a fresh setback to the U.S. planemaker that sets the stage for potentially billions of dollars in accounting charges.
Deutsche Lufthansa, the launch customer for the widebody aircraft, is already laying the groundwork for a fresh setback. The German airline isn’t including the 777X in its fleet plans until 2027, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. Officials at Emirates, the 777X’s biggest customer, have also grown more cautious as it looks at entry into service possibly not before 2027.
Analysts estimate the non-cash accounting charge could run from $2.5 billion to as much as $4 billion, though Boeing has not detailed the extent of the cost. But executives have held meetings with major investors in recent weeks and are charting out damage-control messaging that the financial impact will be spread across the overall jet program, according to one of the people.
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