Boeing's $15B 777X Program Costs Dwarf Airbus's A330neo Development

Boeing's development costs for its 777X program have surpassed $15 billion, with the cost of the composite wing alone reaching around $2 billion. This puts it on par with Airbus's total A330neo development cost. The 777X remains delayed until 2027, while Airbus has delivered 189 A330neos by 2026.

The higher costs for Boeing mean that the company must sell more units to break even, which could result in higher acquisition prices or delayed delivery timelines for airlines. In contrast, Airbus's lower-cost approach allows operators to replace older A330s sooner with predictable economics.

Boeing's larger 777-9 variant faces market skepticism despite having a higher order volume than the A330neo. Meanwhile, Airbus is targeting aging A330 fleets by offering an upgraded version of its existing plane.