FAA Greenlights Boeing's New 737-7 MAX Airplane

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Boeing an amended type certificate for its new 737-7 airplane, paving the way for commercial service.

This certification is a significant milestone for Boeing, which has been working on the 737-7 model since 2018. The airplane offers more range potential than its siblings, with the ability to carry 135 to 160 passengers in a two-class configuration. It also reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it typically replaces.

Boeing's president and CEO of Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, said that this certification validates the rigor of the airplane's design and recognizes the determination and resilience of the development team. Mike Sinnett, senior vice president of Product Strategy, Product Development, and Development Programs, noted that the company held regular discussions with the FAA to ensure transparency of their progress.

Boeing and Southwest Airlines, the launch customer for the 737-7, are preparing for delivery of the first airplane. The team is busy implementing updates to the final configuration of the airplane.