Boeing's Smallest 737 Max Variant Clears FAA Hurdle

The Boeing 737 Max 7 has finally earned FAA certification after nearly eight years of trying. The aircraft's smaller size and longer range make it ideal for less-trafficked or longer routes, according to Boeing.

The first models will go to Southwest Airlines, which helped reveal the existence of this variant in 2013. This is a significant win for Boeing, which has been on a streak lately, with increased production capacity and self-certification approval.

However, the Max 7 has less than 300 orders waiting for it, mostly from Southwest. By contrast, the larger Max 10 model has over 1,500 models on order and is seen as crucial to Boeing's competition with Airbus.