The world's longest-range jet, the Boeing 777X, is preparing to enter service.

Boeing hopes this new jet will broaden its market reach beyond simply competing with Airbus's 365-seat A350-1000, and hopes to secure new orders following the "collapse" of the A380 superjumbo.

The test flight may be too late for Boeing to achieve its earlier goal of bringing the 777X to the Paris Air Show, taking place from June 17-23, where they hoped to make a splash in Airbus's backyard market.

Boeing also declined to disclose its flight schedule for the 777X or its plans for air shows. The company only stated that the 777X will have its maiden flight in 2019 and will begin deliveries to its customers in 2020.

Explaining the delay in developing this aircraft, a company representative stated that it was due to the US government's ban on Boeing 737 MAX flights earlier this year, as well as delays in assembling the composite-carbon wings and the new GE9X engines from General Electric Co. In addition, Boeing has redirected resources from this and other programs to focus on getting the 737 MAX back in service after incidents in Ethiopia and Indonesia.

According to Reuters, the first two 777X test aircraft have left Boeing's Seattle plant and are undergoing ground-based system integration testing, while the next two test aircraft are in the final stages of assembly. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said at a conference call on Wednesday: "We remain hopeful of achieving our goal of putting the aircraft into service in 2020."

Quynh Anh