#FutureOfFlight: See what passengers can expect on board Boeing's upcoming 777X plane as it inches closer to certification

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Source: Business Insider

• After years of delays, Boeing's upcoming 777X began certification flight testing in mid-July.
• The design boasts a suite of cabin comforts, such as bigger windows and reduced feelings of turbulence.
• Airlines can customize the mood lighting with specific colors and scenes, such as the northern lights.

Boeing may be entangled in its 737 Max fiasco, but it's earning some wins with its upcoming flagship wide-body, the 777X.

The aircraft, which is based on the classic 777 and is set to come in two passenger variants, started certification flight testing in mid-July.

It's the next step in clearing Boeing's new plane for passenger flights after nearly five years of delays and more than $1 billion in abnormal expenses.

"The certification flight testing will continue validating the airplane's safety, reliability, and performance," a Boeing spokesperson told Business Insider. "We appreciate our regulator's rigorous oversight."

Boeing expects the plane to enter service in 2025, but two major customers have said they expect more delays, possibly to 2026.

The delays have caused problems for aircraft operators because they're still flying older, less-efficient planes as they wait for the 777X.

Airlines are eager to replace aging, old-generation wide-bodies. The 777X, which competes with the rival Airbus A350, boasts an increased range, capacity, and efficiency compared with its predecessors.

The jet's immense size — particularly its wider frame — is one of its best-selling characteristics and gives operators some wiggle room regarding the cabin layout.

In July, Boeing showed what passengers could expect on board, including bigger windows and cabins and mood lighting that resembles the northern lights.

Like its predecessor, the 777X can accommodate up to 10 seats per row in economy.

Airlines favor the 777-9 for its huge capacity. The aircraft — which is the largest twin-engine commercial jetliner in production — can carry up to 426 people in two cabins, including 10-abreast rows in the economy section.

This isn't new to the 777, as previous models offer the same feature. The A350's build was modified in late 2022 to also offer 10-abreast seats.

But the 777X's larger cabin, which is 4 inches wider than the 777-300ER the plane is derived from, means those seats can offer more width than its predecessors and its competition. Read more