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Lufthansa’s first 777-9 takes flight

Watch: The first 777-9 to fly with a customer interior will begin cabin and systems testing.

May 08, 2026 in Commercial

Boeing 777-9 is shown taking off from an airport Boeing flew the first 777-9 for Lufthansa Thursday. (Tim Stake photo)

The first 777-9 airplane for Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline and one of the 777X launch customers, flew for the first time ahead of certification testing in the weeks ahead.

  • Instead of a test interior, the airplane features Lufthansa’s fully outfitted passenger cabin, from premium and economy seats to in-flight entertainment systems.
(Myron Partman video)

About the flight: Boeing pilots Capt. Ted Grady and Capt. Jake Miller flew a three‑hour, 27-minute profile over Washington and Oregon, completing a standard flight designed to test the airplane’s systems and structures, with systems operators Zach Lewis and Joel Conard, flight analysts Cody Bruinsma, Mike Deutsch and Carl Zietz, and engineers Ben Wolter and Scott Dailey. The airplane landed at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., at 4:52 p.m. PT.

  • “The airplane performed as we expected,” said Grady, 777/777X chief pilot. “The 777-9 continues to handle beautifully. Thank you to everyone who worked to get the airplane ready for this flight and its next phase of testing.”
Boeing pilots are shown seated at the controls in the flight deck of the 777-9. Capt. Ted Grady and Capt. Jake Miller prepare for the first flight of Lufthansa’s first 777-9. (Tim Stake photo)

Why it matters: First-of-model airplanes, like this one, establish a baseline configuration for customer deliveries. The airplane will undergo ground and flight tests, with an emphasis on cabin systems and connectivity.

Preparing the airplane: Since the airplane rolled out from the Everett factory, teams applied a clear top coat to protect the structure and completed fueling, engine runs and taxi tests. 

As Engineering ship captain for the airplane, Sam Damico supported the production and test teams as they completed the airplane and prepared it for flight.

  • “We’re taking part in something really significant for the company,” Damico said. “There’s a lot of pride from everyone who helped bring all of these pieces together, working late nights and weekends, so this airplane can go and do its mission.”

Boeing will paint the airplane with the full Lufthansa livery before delivery.

A Boeing pilot inspects a 777-9 airplane Capt. Jake Miller inspects the 777-9 prior to Thursday’s first flight. (Tim Stake photo)

Testing, certification, delivery: The program has logged more than 4,700 flight test hours across the 777-9 test fleet. In addition to the dedicated test airplanes, production airplanes – like this sixth 777-9 to fly – are essential to completing certification requirements and preparing for first delivery in 2027, the company said.

  • “Our team continues to face into the challenges of bringing a new airplane to market, and preparing to begin certification testing on this 777-9 is one more example of our progress,” said Terry Beezhold, 777-9 vice president and program manager. “I’m grateful to our team whose skill and dedication will help us deliver this airplane and to Lufthansa and all of our customers for choosing the 777X family.”

About the family: The 777X family – the 777-9, the 777-8 Freighter and the 777-8 passenger airplane – are the newest members of Boeing’s market-leading widebody family.

  • Customers have ordered more than 620 777X airplanes.