First Emirates Boeing 777-9 rolls out of Everett factory

Dhaka: The first Boeing 777-9 of Emirates has rolled off the factory floor at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and is heading to the paint shop, according to media reports.

The green, primer-coated aircraft was spotted this week. It marks a key milestone for both Boeing and the Dubai-based carrier, as the planemaker targets delivery of the long-delayed 777X by 2027.

The jet will receive several coats of paint over a few weeks. When it reappears, it will wear Emirates livery for the first time.

Emirates is the largest customer of the 777X, with 270 units on order. The airline plans to use the largest variant, the 777-9, as the long-term backbone of its operations at Dubai International Airport, replacing its aging Boeing 777-300ERs and some Airbus A380s.

The A380 will not be fully replaced, though the 777-9 offers high capacity that suits busy trunk routes.

The aircraft will be powered by GE9X engines and feature composite wings, which deliver lower per-seat operating costs than older-generation jets.

With a range of up to 14,820 kilometers, or 8,000 nautical miles, the 777-9 can connect Dubai nonstop to destinations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The 777X program has faced years of setbacks. The type was originally expected to enter commercial service in 2020, meaning the delay now stretches to about seven years. Regulatory hurdles and structural problems found during testing contributed to the slippage.

Emirates was due to receive the first batch of 10 777X jets earlier this year. But the airline turned them down, as the aircraft were early builds and would have required costly rework to meet the airline's strict standards.