Boeing's Troubled Jets Near Certification Amid Delays

Boeing's troubled 737 MAX program is inching closer to recovery, but its larger variants are still facing significant delays. The FAA has freed up resources for the 737 MAX 10 and 777-9 after certifying the smaller MAX 7 earlier this year.

The 737 MAX 10, with over 1,400 orders, has completed nearly 1,000 certification flights and is now undergoing system safety reviews. It requires updated anti-ice and crew alerting systems, which were mandated after the 2023 findings on the MAX series. Boeing has already approved these fixes for the MAX 7, and they will be retrofitted into existing MAX 8 and 9 aircraft.

The 777-9, with over 500 orders, is halfway through testing, having logged more than 1,700 flights and 4,800 hours. This variant requires FAA approval of new wings, engines, and folding wingtips, which were among the issues causing delays. However, most of these problems have been resolved ahead of a projected late 2026 or early 2027 certification.

Airlines with MAX 10 orders are facing extended waits for fleet expansion, affecting their route planning and capacity. The delay in certifying the 777-9 impacts long-haul strategies, particularly for carriers counting on its fuel efficiency and range to replace older widebodies.