Boeing 777-9

The Boeing 777-9 is designed to seat approximately 426 passengers in a two-class configuration. In a three-class layout, it carries around 349 passengers. At 76.7 m, it will be the longest commercial aircraft ever built, surpassing the 747-8i by 0.4 m. The cabin uses a new design with larger windows and improved lighting.

The Boeing 777-9 is expected to have a maximum range of approximately 13,500 km (7,285 nautical miles) with a full passenger load. This is achieved through the all-new GE9X engines, the largest-diameter turbofan engines ever built at 3.4 m across. The aircraft also features a new carbon-fiber composite wing with folding wingtips that span 71.8 m when deployed.

The 777-9 seats more passengers than the A350-1000 (426 vs 366 in two-class) and has a wider cabin (5.87 m vs 5.61 m). The A350-1000 is already in service and offers a longer range at 16,100 km versus the 777-9's expected 13,500 km. The A350-1000 uses an all-composite fuselage, while the 777-9 has a metallic fuselage. The 777-9 targets the high-capacity long-haul market where its seat count advantage provides better economics on popular routes.

The 777-9's most distinctive feature is its folding wingtips, the first on a commercial aircraft, which fold upward to reduce the wingspan from 71.8 m to 64.8 m for gate compatibility. The GE9X engines are enormous, with a fan diameter larger than the fuselage of a Boeing 737. The aircraft features raked wingtips (when deployed) and a distinctive new cockpit window design with a more angular shape than current 777 models.

The Boeing 777-9 (part of the 777X program) has experienced significant delays, originally expected to enter service in 2020. Multiple issues including GE9X engine problems, structural fatigue test failures, and Boeing's broader quality concerns have pushed the timeline. Emirates is the largest customer with 115 aircraft on order. The 777X program represents Boeing's most important new development, as it competes against the well-established Airbus A350 family for the next generation of wide-body orders.