FAA Clears Boeing 737-7 for Commercial Service

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified Boeing's 737-7, clearing the way for its commercial service. The certification process began in 2018 and included over 1,000 hours of flight and ground testing.

Boeing is now preparing to deliver the first 737-7 aircraft to Southwest Airlines, its launch customer. The company has updated the initial airplanes to meet their final production configuration.

The 737-7 typically seats between 135 and 160 passengers in a two-class configuration and can fly up to 3,800 nautical miles. It offers about 10% more potential range than other 737 MAX models, making it suitable for airlines that need smaller single-aisle aircraft with longer-range capabilities.

Compared to the aircraft it's replacing, the 737-7 is designed to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, while lowering its noise footprint by 50%.