FAA Certifies Boeing 737 MAX 10 After Years of Delays

“Completing the certification program clears the path for us to deliver a Boeing airplane that will set a new standard in commercial aviation,” Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing’s commercial airplane unit, said in a news release.

The Federal Aviation Administration signed off on the Boeing 737 Max 10, clearing the last jet in the manufacturer’s best-selling family to carry passengers after years of regulatory delays.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Engine Anti-Icing Fixes Follow Prior Crashes

The Max 10, which can seat up to 230 people, was set to start flying in 2020. Increased scrutiny following two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 and other safety issues delayed its certification. Engineering changes were also required, including to an anti-icing system for the aircraft’s engines, alongside a final review of a navigation system glitch weeks before approval that federal officials deemed was not a safety-of-flight issue.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted in an interview with CNBC that while safety is paramount, the U.S. needs to improve its certification process. Duffy stated that it takes Boeing to certify an aircraft in Europe less than half the time that it does in the U.S., pointing to China playing to take over in aviation.

Fleet Integration Plans Across Major Domestic Carriers

Airlines carrying the Max 10 in their order books include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. The model makes up about 30% of Boeing’s Max backlog.

Alaska Airlines stated that it expects delivery of its first Max 10 in the second quarter of 2027. The carrier holds firm orders for 168 aircraft across the Max family following an order in January for 105 additional Max 10s. Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci called the aircraft an important part of the airline’s long-term fleet strategy.

Plans for the aircraft cabin vary by carrier. Alaska Airlines intends to install new Aurora lie-flat suites on at least 25 of its Max 10s for transcontinental routes. United CEO Scott Kirby noted that delivery delays left initial lie-flat seat orders sitting in a warehouse, while Alaska outlined plans to put lie-flat seats on some of its 737 Max 10s in a push for more premium offerings.

While government certification clears the path for commercial deliveries, carriers typically require several months to work them into schedules.