Spotted: Brand-New Emirates Boeing 777-9 Rolls Out In Everett Ahead Of Paint Job

Published Sep 26, 2026, 5:12 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. The first of Emirates 270 Boeing 777-9s has rolled off the factory floor at Everett Paine Field, destined for the paint shop. The airline's first of the 777X family of aircraft was spotted this week, with the green, primer-coated aircraft emerging from the assembly line. This important milestone, for both Boeing and Emirates, marks the next chapter for the 777X program, with Boeing aiming for delivery by 2027. As the aircraft now makes its way to the paint shop, the widebody jet will see multiple coats of paint, taking several weeks, before it moves on to the next stage of its development. Once the jet reappears, it will be dressed in Emirates colors for the first time. This is the first of many 777X for Emirates, which have been especially tailored for the Dubai-based carrier. Long-Term Backbone For Emirates Network From Dubai Credit: Emirates Emirates is the largest customer of the 777X and has a total of 270 frames on order. The airline is planning to utilize the aircraft as the long-term backbone for its operations to and from Dubai International Airport(DXB), and sees the aircraft as a suitable replacement for the airline's aging Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380s. While this aircraft will not be a true replacement for the A380, it can provide high passenger capacity, making it a suitable fit for heavy traffic on key routes. The aircraft will be fitted with the GE9X engines, with composite wings that will deliver lower per-seat operating costs when compared to older-generation aircraft, improving the carrier's bottom line. With an extended range, the jet can fly up to 8,000 nautical miles (14,820 kilometers), connecting Dubai to destinations in America, Europe, Africa and Asia nonstop. Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, explains in the Emirates media release: “We are deeply honoured that Emirates has once again selected the Boeing 777X to power its future as the airline refreshes its world-class fleet and expands its vaunted global network. Boeing has been a proud supporter of Emirates over the past 40 years as the airline has grown into one of the world’s leading carriers and developed a reputation for excellence and innovation. We look forward to growing our partnership and for Emirates to fly Boeing airplanes for decades to come.” Delays For The Long-Awaited Jet For Almost A Decade It goes without saying that the 777X program has faced years of delays. It was expected to enter commercial service in 2020. Seven years of delays have been influenced by a combination of regulatory challenges and structural problems that were identified during testing. Early ground stress tests in 2019 saw the fuselage buckling, and subsequent inspections in 2024 identified cracking in the engine and wing mounting hardware. Emirates was to receive the first batch of ten 777X earlier this year, but rejected the aircraft as they were early builds, and costly rework would require significant modifications to meet the airline's strict aircraft standards. This saw the jets be around eight years old for delivery, and the airline's president, Sir Tim Clark, referred to them as being like a can of baked beans. The excitement of the newest 777X jet rolling off the factory floor at Paine Field is an important milestone in the 777X program, as the newer jets are now destined for the paint shop before moving on to the next stage of development. Emirates 777X Delivery Aiming For May Or June Credit: Emirates Boeing and Emirates expect the first 777X delivery to take place next year in either May or June. These will still be pending FAA certification and would see the airline begin operation of the jets later that year. Other major international airlines that have ordered the 777X include Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, British Airways, All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, China Airlines, and Etihad Airways. After the Emirates 777X exits the paint shop, it is expected that the plane moves to the flight line and detailing hangar for interior installation and further rigorous system testing.