Lufthansa Confirmed as Boeing 777X Launch Customer

Boeing has confirmed that Lufthansa will be the launch customer for the 777X, according to statements made during the company’s latest earnings conference call.

During the earnings call on January 28, 2025, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg discussed the ongoing certification process for the Boeing 777X, highlighting specific issues related to Lufthansa’s aircraft. Ortberg mentioned “seat challenges” as a factor impacting the certification process.

“So, actually, the first delivery – 777X delivery is also to Lufthansa,” Ortberg stated during the call, officially confirming Lufthansa as the launch customer of the highly anticipated aircraft.

Photo by TJDarmstadt

Expected Boeing 777X Launch Customer Speculations

Aviation analysts had widely speculated that either Lufthansa or Dubai-based Emirates would be the first airline to take delivery of the Boeing 777-9. The 777-9 is the larger variant of the Boeing 777X family, which also includes the smaller 777-8.

777X Test Flights Resume After Delay

Boeing recently resumed 777X test flights after a five-month suspension. The pause was due to the discovery of a thrust link issue during routine maintenance checks. Initially identified on a Boeing 777-9 test aircraft, the same issue was later found on two additional test planes.

During the call, Boeing CFO Brian West addressed the delay, stating, “Flight testing recently resumed, and we still expect first delivery in 2026, and we’ll continue to follow the lead of the FAA as we move through certification.”

Lufthansa Boeing 777x Certification Challenges

Photo by Palácio do Planalto

Ortberg also highlighted the challenges associated with Lufthansa’s 787 aircraft due to complex seating configurations and the monuments surrounding the seats.

“We’re still challenged in getting through cert on some new type seats on 787. We got a plan on that. It’s really a customer by-customer basis,”

Ortberg said.

Regarding the Lufthansa 777-9, he noted that the aircraft’s interior is even “more complex” but assured that it is incorporated into Boeing’s overall certification strategy, giving the company time to address the complexities.

Lufthansa’s Allegris Interior Product

Lufthansa’s new Allegris interior product is set to be introduced on more than 80 brand-new aircraft, including the Boeing 787-9, Airbus A350, and Boeing 777-9. This premium product aims to enhance passenger experience with an upgraded cabin design and advanced seating configurations.