FAA to Restore Boeing's Authority to Issue Airworthiness Certificates for 737 MAX, 787 Jets

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it will permit Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for all its 737 MAX and 787 aircraft, a key step in normalizing the company's production process. The decision, which takes effect Monday, July 20, 2026, signals regulatory confidence in the planemaker's improved manufacturing consistency.

A Return to Self-Certification

The FAA's move follows several months of intensive data and safety reviews. According to the agency, this oversight demonstrated that Boeing's production quality findings were comparable regardless of whether the certificates were issued by the company or by the FAA itself.

This decision fully restores a responsibility that had been under heightened scrutiny. In September 2025, the FAA had partially returned this authority, allowing Boeing and the agency to issue the final airworthiness certificates on alternating weeks. The successful eight-month trial period was central to the FAA's determination that Boeing can now safely manage the entire process.

Continued Regulatory Oversight

While this restores a critical function to Boeing, the FAA stressed that its direct oversight is not ending. The agency will continue to conduct its own inspections, audits, and monitoring of Boeing's production system. This includes observing critical assembly activities and tracking production quality trends.

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"Safety drives everything we do, and this step forward is only possible because we are confident it can be done safely," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford in the announcement. He added that the change allows FAA inspectors to focus more on "identifying and addressing potential risks earlier in the manufacturing process." The agency will also continue to assess Boeing’s Safety Management System and overall safety culture.

Implications for Boeing and Investors

For Boeing, the FAA's decision is a significant vote of confidence and a crucial operational development. The ability to self-certify its most important commercial jets should help streamline the final stages of production and delivery, potentially reducing bottlenecks that can delay handing over aircraft to airline customers.

This move is a milestone in Boeing's efforts to move past production issues that have drawn intense regulatory focus. For investors, it suggests that the FAA is satisfied with the progress made in the company's quality control systems, a key factor for the long-term health of its manufacturing operations.