Troubled aircraft manufacturer Boeing will conduct the first test flight of its brand new 777X aircraft in the US on Thursday (local time), according to Reuters.
A source linked to one of the nine airlines who have confirmed orders for the new aircraft told the news agency the aircraft was likely to take-off for the first time by the end of the week.
The Boeing 777X will be the largest ever twin-engined airliner and able to carry an average of 406 passengers.
The massive aircraft is the latest in the 777 series. Air New Zealand currently operates Boeing 777-200s and 777-300s.
The 777X has a wingspan so wide, the wings are designed to fold up to allow it to park at airport gates.
There's a lot riding on the success of the new aircraft which can carry nearly as many people as a 747, but with only two engines.
Boeing is experiencing arguably its worst period in its more than 100 year history. Hundreds of its brand new 737 Max 8 aircraft remain grounded as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigates the cause of two fatal crashes involving the airplane, killing a total of 346 people.
A trading hold was put on Boeing's shares earlier this week after the FAA announced further delays in allowing the Max 8 to take to the skies again.
