Final validation for LATAM’s newest fleet addition The process of incorporating the first Boeing 787-9 for LATAM Airlines equipped with GEnx-1B engines has entered its culminating phase at the manufacturer’s facility in South Carolina. The aircraft, registered as CC-BMB, successfully completed three evaluation missions this week under the test flight code BOE120, operating out of Charleston Airport. These validation flights, realized on December 21 and 23, constitute the standard acceptance protocols required before the aircraft is officially transferred to the Chilean-Brazilian group. The activity on the runway and in the air confirms that the machine is in final preparations for its delivery flight, marking the operational debut of GE Aerospace technology within the company’s long-range fleet.
Technical assessments and strategic shifts During the operations on December 23, the CC-BMB executed two specific test sorties. The first mission lasted one hour and ten minutes during the morning, followed by a more extensive afternoon session of two hours and thirty-seven minutes. These trials allow Boeing engineers to strictly verify the performance of the power plants and avionics systems prior to the airline signing the certificate of conformity. LATAM’s selection of GEnx engines, originally announced in 2023 as part of a strategy for growth toward 2030, aims to optimize fuel consumption efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Until this specific order, the entirety of the group’s 37 Dreamliners operated with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Once testing in the United States concludes, the aircraft will fly to the Santiago de Chile hub for customs and nationalization procedures. It is the first of a series of units expected to elevate the fleet of this model to a total of 52 aircraft by the end of the decade.
Boeing aims to reclaim top manufacturer spot This progress in deliveries aligns with Boeing’s conviction that it is positioned to restore normal production levels and potentially return to being the world’s premier aircraft manufacturer in 2026. Its European rival, Airbus, has not been capable of resolving persistent problems in its production chain, which remains stalled. In 2025, Boeing managed to sell nearly 200 more aircraft than Airbus, and it is highly probable that the American enterprise could surpass the European one in manufacturing output during the coming year. If sales and deliveries increase as projected, Boeing could re-establish itself as number one. Current data indicates that if Boeing is not manufacturing more planes than Airbus today, it is exclusively because it had a limitation of 38 units of the 737 per month for most of the year. However, by the end of this year, production has risen to 42, with targets to start 2026 at 47 and finish the year with 53 units per month.
Regulatory hurdles and production forecasts Under such a scenario, the American manufacturer would overtake Airbus, which is expected to have manufactured around 670 planes in 2025—figures that remain far from its pre-pandemic statistics. Nevertheless, Boeing’s enthusiasm must overcome the strict oversight of the FAA. The US Federal Aviation Administration remembers clearly that past failures and deceptions by Boeing impacted the agency’s own prestige regarding safety certifications. Consequently, the FAA is proceeding with extreme caution, demanding extensive testing before validating claims. In addition to the resolved issues with the 737 Max, Boeing still faces the pending certification of the Max 10 and Max 7 variants, as well as the new 777X, which is a sales success but still lacks final approved documentation.