Boeing 737 MAX 7 Wins US FAA Certification After Years-Long Delay

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted certification to Boeing's 737 MAX 7, a significant milestone for the company. The approval comes after years of delays and setbacks, including a missed deadline set by Congress in 2022.

Boeing had initially expected the plane to be approved before the end of 2022, but faced a more stringent certification process following two fatal crashes of its MAX 8 model in 2018 and 2019. The company has also faced scrutiny over its production and quality systems after a mid-air cabin panel blowout on a nearly new Alaska Airlines MAX 9 in January 2024.

The FAA's Deputy Administrator, Chris Rocheleau, had previously stated that approval of the larger MAX 10 would be 'right behind' the MAX 7. Boeing has already built about 30 MAX 7s and nine MAX 10s, which are awaiting delivery. The MAX 10 accounts for at least 28% of outstanding MAX orders.