Boeing 777X test flight delayed for a second time due to weather

The US plane maker will try again at 10am on January 25

A Boeing 777X airplane taxis back after postponing its first flight due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on January 24, 2020. AFP

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on January 24, 2020. AFP

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

The folding wingtip of the Boeing 777X airplane is seen on the runway at the Paine Field airport in Mukilteo, Washington on Friday, January 24, 2020. Bloomberg

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis back to a parking spot after weather conditions prevented it from making its first flight. The plane sat on the runway for several hours, but was unable to take off due to high wind and other conditions. The flight was rescheduled for Saturday. AP Photo

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis during an attempted first test flight from the company's plant in Everett, Washington. Reuters

Boeing workers are pictured near a 777X airplane during a first flight event, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

A pilot in the Boeing 777X airplane waves as it taxis for the first flight. AFP

A General Electric GE9X engine is pictured on the Boeing 777X airplane as it taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled. AFP

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

A folding wingtip is pictured on a Boeing 777X airplane taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis during an attempted first test flight from the company's plant in Everett, Washington on Friday, January 24, 2020. The test flight was postponed for a second day in a row due to the weather. Reuters

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on January 24, 2020. AFP

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis back after postponing its first flight due to weather conditions at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

A camera operator covers his equipment after the first flight event for the Boeing 777X airplane had to be rescheduled due to weather at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

A person (centre) is silhouetted in the airport control tower after the first flight event for the Boeing 777X airplane had to be rescheduled due to weather at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

The Boeing 777X airplane taxis back after a cancelled first test flight from the company's plant in Everett, Washington on Friday, January 24, 2020. The test flight was postponed for a second day in a row due to the weather. Reuters

A Boeing 777X airplane taxis during an attempted first test flight from the company's plant in Everett, Washington. Reuters

Boeing workers are pictured near a 777X airplane during a first flight event, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

A Boeing 777X airplane taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

Boeing workers attend a first flight event for the 777X airplane, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, at Paine Field in Everett, Washington on January 24, 2020. AFP

Boeing was forced to delay the first test flight of its much-anticipated 777X jet for a second time due to bad weather.

The US plane maker had originally scheduled the flight for January 23, but was forced to delay due to the conditions.

And when it tried again on January 24, it was once again thwarted by the weather at its production facility in Everett, Washington.

It was providing updates on Twitter and appeared and confirmed it was "on track" as it made its final checks.

However, the company then confirmed the plane was "holding at the end of the runway due to inclement weather", and hours later confirmed that the flight had been cancelled for the day. Boeing said it would try again at 10am local time on January 25.

"Wind levels prevented us from flying today. We will continue to provide updates on our website and through social media," Boeing tweeted.

Boeing then explained why other aircraft were able to fly in the locality, but the 777X had to stay grounded.

"Flight tests, first flights in particular, have special requirements that are more stringent (like wind strength & direction for takeoff) than for certified airplanes. For this reason, commercial flights departed Paine Field today but the #777X couldn't," it said.

The 777X programme is already behind schedule after a number of mishaps during production. It was originally slated to be delivered during the middle of this year, but is instead expected to be delivered in 2021.

Emirates, the biggest customer of the 777X, ordered 24 fewer planes of the 777X from a total of 126 planes during the Dubai Airshow in November, down from an original order of 150 jets in 2013.

The jet will come in two variations – the 777-8 and 777-9. The 777-8 will seat between 350 to 375 passengers, while the other variant can carry 400 to 425, both in a two-class configuration.

Boeing said it will have 12 per cent lower fuel consumption and 10 per cent lower operating costs than its competition.

Its features include folding wing tips, allowing an extended span of seven metres to maximise fuel efficiency, larger windows and "smoother ride technology".

The aircraft faces extra scrutiny from regulators amid Boeing's crisis with the 737 Max which has been grounded since March after two fatal crashes that resulted in the death of 346 people.

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