First Emirates Boeing 777-9 moves to paint shop

The first Boeing 777-9 destined for Emirates has emerged from Boeing’s Everett assembly line and is heading to the paint shop, marking a milestone in the long-delayed 777X programme.

The aircraft was spotted this week at Paine Field International Airport in Everett, still covered in green primer ahead of final painting. Over the coming weeks, the widebody jet will receive multiple coats of paint and detailing before moving to the interior fit-out stage. Once completed, it will be the first Emirates aircraft from this latest production batch to carry the airline’s livery.

Emirates has 270 Boeing 777-9s on order, making it the largest customer for the 777X programme, while Boeing is targeting deliveries beginning in 2027. The Dubai-based carrier plans to use the aircraft as the long-term backbone of its operations at Dubai International Airport.

The rollout follows a turbulent period for the programme. The 777X has been affected by years of delays, driven by regulatory hurdles and structural issues identified during testing, including fuselage buckling during ground stress tests in 2019 and cracks found in engine and wing mounting hardware during inspections in 2024.

Earlier this year, Emirates declined to accept an initial batch of 10 early-build 777-9s that had been sitting at Everett since 2019 and 2020. The airline said the aircraft, already around seven years old, had become financially obsolete and would require costly rework to meet its standards. Emirates President Sir Tim Clark was blunt in his assessment of the stored jets, comparing them to tins of baked beans.

One of those early airframes, known as WH007 and originally intended for registration as A6-EZT, never entered service. Rolled out in Emirates colours in July 2019, it remained unused at Paine Field for years before Boeing dismantled it in late summer 2025, reportedly because reworking such an early-build aircraft no longer made economic sense.

Boeing has previously stressed the depth of its relationship with Emirates. When the airline placed an order for 65 additional 777-9s at the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope said the manufacturer was 'deeply honoured that Emirates has once again selected the Boeing 777X to power its future', adding that the companies looked forward to 'growing our partnership' for decades to come.