FAA Nears Certification for Boeing 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10, Official Says

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is close to granting certification for Boeing's 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 aircraft following an intensive review period. The approvals would mark a critical milestone for the planemaker, allowing it to begin deliveries of the two remaining variants in its best-selling single-aisle jet family.

Official Timeline Emerges

Speaking at the Farnborough Air Show on Monday, Deputy FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said the certification for the MAX 7 is "literally around the corner," with the approval for the larger MAX 10 to follow shortly thereafter. Rocheleau's comments, made during an interview with Reuters, provide the clearest official timeline yet for the two aircraft.

The certification process for Boeing's aircraft has been under intense scrutiny following the two fatal 737 MAX crashes that led to a worldwide grounding of the fleet. The FAA has since implemented a more rigorous oversight process for new aircraft approvals.

Broader Certification Pipeline

Beyond the 737 MAX program, the FAA also anticipates moving forward with the certification of Boeing's wide-body 777X aircraft after the two MAX variants are approved.

Ad

According to Rocheleau, the 777X could receive its certification either later this year or in early 2027. He noted that the final timing is contingent on Boeing providing all necessary information to the agency for review.

What This Means for Boeing

Securing FAA approval is the final hurdle before Boeing can deliver the MAX 7 and MAX 10 to airline customers. These deliveries are crucial for the company's revenue and its ability to compete with rival Airbus, particularly in the high-demand single-aisle market.

Investors and airlines will be watching closely for the official certification announcements, which would signal a major step in normalizing Boeing's commercial aircraft operations and clearing its extensive order backlog for the 737 MAX family.