Boeing's 777X Delays Now Cost As Much As Entire A350 Development
The Boeing 777X program was initially envisioned as a low-risk derivative of the successful 777 aircraft, designed to evolve with new composite wings and GE9X engines. However, this strategy has backfired, resulting in cumulative accounting charges of around $15 billion due to delays.
This sum roughly equals what Airbus spent on developing the A350 family from scratch. The 777X was originally expected to enter service in 2020 but is now targeting 2027, a seven-year delay. Certification issues and production inefficiencies have significantly contributed to these costs.
The comparison with the A350 highlights the vastly different development philosophies employed by Boeing and Airbus. While the A350 was an all-new aircraft, the 777X retained much of its predecessor's design, systems architecture, and operational approval.