Boeing’s 777X program continues to face serious delays, with certification now unlikely before 2027—six years behind schedule and far past its original 2020 target. The prolonged setbacks have forced major airline customers, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, to revisit their fleet strategies as international travel demand rebounds.
Spirit Airlines has announced plans to furlough 270 pilots and demote 140 captains to first officers due to continued aircraft delivery delays that have forced the airline to reduce its flight schedule through 2025. The budget carrier cited a combination of Pratt & Whitney engine issues and broader supply chain disruptions as key drivers of the operational cutbacks.
Boeing has officially postponed the certification of its 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 aircraft to 2026, marking another setback in the program’s turbulent development. The delay is primarily due to unresolved design issues in the aircraft’s engine anti-ice systems, which continue to raise regulatory concerns on both sides of the Atlantic.
United Airlines, one of the largest U.S. carriers, has updated its delivery expectations for two major aircraft types. The airline now anticipates receiving its first Airbus A321XLR in summer 2026, a delay from the originally planned January 2026 timeframe. Additionally, the arrival of its first Boeing 737-10 is now forecasted for 2027, further extending the carrier’s wait for the largest variant of the…
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is experiencing significant delays in the delivery of its Airbus A350 aircraft, with revised schedules now reflecting a 6 to 12 month setback. The delays are attributed to persistent supply chain disruptionsimpacting aircraft production, a challenge affecting multiple operators globally.
Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, has announced plans to lease four Boeing 737-800 aircraft by the end of 2025 to help bridge the capacity gap caused by delays in the delivery of its Airbus A321XLR fleet. The airline had expected a smoother integration of the A321XLRs into its domestic and regional network, but the first of these next-generation aircraft has already arrived three months…
Kenya Airways has projected a decline in its 2025 financial year revenues, attributing the shortfall to the prolonged grounding of two Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The airline cites ongoing engine maintenance delays as the root cause, which has significantly impacted its available seat capacity and network performance.
Austrian Airlines is evaluating the expansion of its wet-lease arrangements as a temporary solution to ongoing delivery delays of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The airline is also reacting to broader operational challenges linked to geopolitical instability in the Middle East, which has placed additional pressure on fleet planning and scheduling flexibility.
China Airlines, the flag carrier of Taiwan, has announced that it is postponing the retirement of several of its Airbus A330s and Boeing 737-800s due to delays in the delivery of B787-9 Dreamliners, originally scheduled to arrive earlier. The delays may also result in compensation payments from Boeing, according to Chairman George Kao.
Japan Airlines (JAL) Managing Director Ross Leggett has confirmed that the retirement of the carrier’s B777-300ER fleet will be postponed by approximately three years. This decision comes as Japan Airlines continues to monitor future aircraft delivery schedules to ensure seamless operational transitions without service disruptions.
