Watch: Boeing 777X test flight lands in Curaçao

Boeing has faced quite a few setbacks in recent years. The American aircraft manufacturer is facing some highly publicized quality control issues with its Boeing 737 Max , and is taking steep financial losses as production and deliveries remain down compared to European rival Airbus .

However, things seem to be looking up for the aerospace firm. The Virginia-based company has resumed test flights of its new Boeing 777x aircraft, which promises to be a replacement for some of today's less fuel-efficient widebody jets.

The Boeing 777X recently flew from Seattle, Washington to Curaçao, located on an island in the Caribbean Sea.

The island's climate makes it a perfect host for test flights as Boeing aims to prove the 777X's performance in a variety of regions.

While there is still a long way to go for the program before it can be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration , these test flights indicate a positive step for Boeing as it aims to deliver its first 777X next year.

The 777X flies south

Boeing sent one of its 777X prototypes, registered as N779XX, to Curaçao on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft departed Boeing Field (BFI) near Seattle at 07:43 local time, and traveled for 7 hours and 25 minutes before arriving in the Caribbean at 18:24 local time.

In a video released by Boeing from the cockpit on Instagram, the aircraft is seen gliding along the shore before touching down on the airport's only runway.

Boeing sent its prototype here to test its performance in the local climate. Curaçao is warm and has high humidity, partly contrasting with Seattle's cold climate in the winter months.

The 777X team launched a series of test flights following the aircraft's initial arrival. The day after its arrival, no tests were performed.

However, on Thursday, February 13, the aircraft performed a 5 hour and 39 minute flight, during which it flew just north of the island. The aircraft took off at 11:08 local time and landed at 16:46.

Yesterday, Friday, February 14, the aircraft was tested on a shorter flight. Departing at 10:16 local time and landing at 13:35, the aircraft was airborne for 3 hours and 19 minutes.

The aircraft flew in the same area as the previous test flight, though this time it featured fewer turns and more stretches of consistent heading.

Another test flight is currently being operated today, February 15, but at the time of writing, the aircraft has not yet landed.

The 777X is Boeing's newest aircraft

Though it is not a clean sheet design, the 777X is Boeing's newest aircraft program. The program is an updated iteration of Boeing's massively successful Boeing 777 family.

The aircraft are designed with a high passenger and cargo capacity and a long range, making them a popular choice for global airlines with a wide network scope.

Both current variants of the Boeing 777, including the larger -300ER, remain popular with US carriers like United Airlines.

Despite being part of the same aircraft family, the re-engined 777X is not necessarily a direct replacement for existing 777 models. This is due to the enhanced capacity of the Boeing 777X. According to Boeing, the 777-300 typically seats around 368 passengers in a three-class configuration.

Meanwhile, the Boeing 777-9 easily seats over 400 passengers. The aircraft's enlarged size means it requires folding wingtips to fit at existing airport gates.

The 777X better aligns with a different market, as Boeing hopes it will replace some of the largest widebody jets currently in use by carriers.

This is evidenced by which airlines have ordered the Boeing 777X. US carriers that still rely heavily on older 777 models, like United Airlines and American Airlines, have not shown interest in the updated jet.

Meanwhile, many global carriers that use even larger aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, like Lufthansa, British Airways, All Nippon Airways, and Emirates, have ordered the type.

These airlines consolidate traffic at one or two major hubs, making it easier to fill higher-capacity jets.

It is worth noting that Boeing plans to launch a smaller Boeing 777-8, though there has been less interest from airlines in the smaller variant.