First Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-9 makes maiden test flight

Singapore Airlines’ first Boeing 777-9 has taken to the skies for its maiden flight, marking another milestone in the long journey toward the carrier’s much-anticipated (and frankly long-overdue) long-haul fleet renewal. Aircraft WH286 (construction line number 1723), registered N2007L, lifted off from Paine Field, Seattle, on 5th August 2025, following its experimental type certificate approval.

But before SIA fans get too excited about spotting the new widebody in Singapore Airlines colours anytime soon, there’s an important caveat: this aircraft remains firmly in Boeing’s hands for now.

Sporting an all-white livery with no SIA decals, N2007L joins the Boeing 777-9 certification programme as the fifth test aircraft, playing a crucial role in getting the type certified, rather than preparing it for passenger service any time soon.

First flight

On 5th August 2025 at 11.03am Pacific Daylight Time, N2007L took off from Seattle’s Paine Field adjacent to the Boeing Everett Factory, completing a 2 hour 27 minute flight during which the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 39,000ft.

This was the first maiden flight of a Boeing 777-9 in five years.

According to The Air Current, N2007L will be primarily involved in high intensity radiated field (HIRF) testing.

Boring but important, HIRF testing is designed to demonstrate the 777X’s fly-by-wire, digital avionics and other integrated systems cannot be corrupted or fail when exposed to strong external radio frequency emissions. Most of this testing will take place in Marana, Arizona, where the aircraft is due to be flown next week.

Future SIA jets aren’t new to testing involvement

SIA isn’t breaking new ground by having future aircraft serve in a manufacturer’s certification programme.

The airline has previously allowed both Boeing and Airbus to use aircraft destined for its fleet in testing roles.

When two SIA Boeing 787-10s participated in that type’s certification programme, they actually ended up being delivered later than some other aircraft in the order, despite being built and flown first.

The reason? They require extensive post-testing modifications, cabin fitting and complete repainting before they can enter commercial service.

History suggests N2007L may well face a similar fate, meaning this particular aircraft might not actually be the first Boeing 777-9 to don SIA’s livery and sport its latest long-haul cabin products, when deliveries eventually begin.

The long road to certification

The Boeing 777-9 has become something of a poster child for aircraft development delays.

Originally slated for delivery to Singapore Airlines in 2021, the programme has faced well-documented production setbacks that have pushed timelines back considerably. While this first flight of an SIA-destined jet represents genuine progress, it’s worth managing expectations about what it means for actual service entry.

Boeing launched the 777X programme in 2013, with a goal to certify the aircraft in 2019, and achieve entry into service with its launch customer later that same year.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, with no fewer than seven separate delays to the programme by our count, the latest of which was only resolved in January this year.

For perspective, the original Boeing 777-200 was launched in October 1990, then the aircraft first flew in 1994 and entered commercial service in June 1995.

That’s project launch to passenger flights in less than 5 years – for a brand new aircraft type.

In the Boeing 777-9 we have a variant of the same type that won’t enter commercial service for at least 13 years after launch.

Even the Airbus A380, which suffered many development delays of its own, went from formal launch to commercial service entry in less than 7 years.

8-door configuration

As you may know, the Boeing 777-300ER has 10 exit doors (5 on each side), and if you’ve seen pictures of some other Boeing 777-9 test aircraft you have probably come to the conclusion that it also has 10 exit doors.

In fact, Boeing offers the 777-9 with either 8 or 10 exit doors, with an optional door pair on either side in the rear cabin section, allowing an increased maximum passenger limit of 475, rather than 440.

Back in December 2023, we predicted that Singapore Airlines would go for the 8-door fit, and the first of the carrier’s aircraft to take to the skies confirms this layout.

With the 8-door model confirmed, there is a huge single cabin section between the third and fourth set of passenger exit doors, stretching from behind the wing right to the back of the jet.

Given SIA’s likely premium-heavy cabin layout, we believe that this might be the only Economy Class seating area on board, with the forward two cabin sections dedicated to First, Business and Premium Economy.

According to Boeing, the final section between the third and fourth pair of doors on the 8-door aircraft can accommodate 200 Economy Class passengers in a mostly 3-4-3 layout, which is probably not far off SIA’s ideal seat count for this cabin on the 777-9 (about 9% more Economy seats than it has on the 777-300ER).

That would make it the largest single Economy Class section in SIA’s wide-body fleet, with no doors or bulkhead dividers across a mammoth 20-21 rows.

It would also have the impact of potentially leaving only a single Economy Class row with extra legroom seats on the 777-9, compared to two rows on the 777-300ER and three on the A380.

As the Boeing plans also show, there should be some couple options in Economy Class on the 777-9, especially at the very back of this section, where the cabin narrows and 2-4-2 seating becomes the norm.

Window layout hints

The window layout on SIA’s Boeing 777-9 also gives us some clues as to the likely internal configuration of the aircraft.

Up at the front there are no real surprises, with what looks like two rows of First Class each with three windows, meaning we should see six to eight closed-door suites installed here.

That’s followed by Business Class for quite a significant stretch for the rest of the forward section, plus a second section back to a mid-wing position.

After a break, the window layout then becomes dense for seven windows before the third main aircraft doors, and this is where we predict Premium Economy will be housed.

Finally as we mentioned above – 200-odd Economy seats in the mammoth single rear section.

Based on a 15% higher overall seat capacity than the Boeing 777-300ER, we speculated on the following approximate seating totals for SIA’s Boeing 777-9 back in December 2023, and the window spacing appears to reasonably closely support this.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 Seating Layout
Mainly Miles Prediction

If anything, we would say that First Class is probably six to eight seats looking at the window pattern, while Economy is closer to the lower end – assuming it’s only found in that rear section – around 200 seats.

Premium Economy might be bigger than we predicted – a seven-window section would easily have 40+ seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Note that SIA has not yet confirmed its planned cabin layout for the 777-9, these are purely our predictions.

New cabin products

All-new cabin products across First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class were due to debut on SIA’s Boeing 777-9, but the type’s ongoing production delays led the airline to announce in November last year that it would in fact be retrofitted long-haul Airbus A350s that would now debut the latest First and Business Class products.

These will be revealed at a launch event in early 2026.

There’s still a possibility that the new First Class product could appear on the 777-9 before the A350 ULR aircraft in 2027, though that would be based on an optimistic first delivery date for the beleaguered type.

More about the Boeing 777-9

We’ve got a full rundown about the many features, both known and likely, of these new ~300 seat Boeing 777-9 aircraft in our dedicated article.

When can we expect the real thing?

SIA’s first Boeing 777-9 delivery is still penciled in for 2026, though even that timeline comes with asterisks.

The airline isn’t the launch customer for the type – that honour goes to Lufthansa. Other major carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways may also be ahead of SIA in the delivery queue, which could realistically push the first SIA 777-9 into 2027.

That no doubt continues to irk the company’s senior executives.

The 777-9 represents a significant piece of SIA’s long-haul fleet renewal puzzle. The 31 aircraft in the carrier’s order will eventually help modernise routes that currently rely on aging Boeing 777-300ERs, and in some cases Airbus A380s, offering improved fuel efficiency and a better passenger experience.

But as this first test flight reminds us, “eventually” remains the operative word.

Which 777-9s will SIA get?

Singapore Airlines is the third-largest customer for the Boeing 777X, after Emirates and Qatar Airways, with 31 firm orders, all of which are for the 777-9.

Boeing 777X Passenger Aircraft Orders
as of August 2025

Singapore Airlines has been allocated line slots for its first six Boeing 777-9 aircraft, but don’t get too excited – because they aren’t particularly early slots on the list.

Boeing 777-9 Production List

Source: Aviation Flights Group

Nonetheless, at least three of SIA’s Boeing 777-9s have already been built – and with today’s news at least one is now flying – so delivery could be at a relatively quick pace, once the aircraft is finally certified.

The first flight of a (future) Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-9 represents genuine progress after years of programme setbacks, but you shouldn’t expect to see this aircraft in service anytime soon.

While N2007L’s maiden flight shows that things are moving forward, the aircraft remains dedicated to specialised testing, rather than preparation for passenger service.

Even when deliveries begin, SIA won’t necessarily next in line behind launch customer Lufthansa. Combined with the extensive modifications test aircraft typically require, this particular 777-9 likely won’t even be the first to enter SIA service. Realistic first deliveries to SIA remain in the 2026-2027 timeframe.

For now, aviation enthusiasts and SIA passengers alike will have to content themselves with knowing that progress is being made, but the finish line remains frustratingly distant.

The 777-9’s journey from drawing board to passenger service has proven far longer than anyone anticipated, but the good news at least is that each test flight brings the programme – and SIA’s long-haul fleet renewal – one step closer to reality.

(Cover Photo: Matt Cawby)