FAA Certifies 737 MAX 7 After Years-Long Delays

US regulators have finally certified Boeing's 737 MAX 7 aircraft after more than eight years of delays. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the certification on Monday, marking a major milestone for the company.

The certification process was prolonged by new requirements under federal legislation following two fatal MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing had originally intended to commence deliveries in 2019, but that timeframe fell by the wayside due to the crashes and other problems.

Boeing completed 441 flight tests over 686 test flight hours to win certification. The company's president of Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, said the certification validates the rigour of their airplane's design and recognises the determination and resilience of their development team.