Boeing is anticipating delays of the 777X program due to limited demand for widebodies currently, Reuters reports. The aircraft manufacturer is said to be delaying further development of the aircraft by a few months to a year.
The decrease in demand, which the 777X is likely to suffer from, is caused not only by the coronavirus pandemic but also by trade restrictions between the United States and China. The restrictions make it more difficult for Chinese customers to receive the device.
The 777X was supposed to be delivered in 2020 to Emirates, the launch customer of the aircraft. Due to problems with the aircraft’s GE9X engines, aircraft development was already delayed. It is not unlikely that the FAA’s certification process will also take up more time, as inspections have been intensified in response to the 737 MAX fiasco. According to current planning, the first aircraft should be delivered in 2021, though Emirates says it does not expect its first 777X to fly before 2022.