Max 7 Clears Certification Hurdle as 737 Max 10 Lags Behind
Boeing's 737 Max 7 has finally obtained certification on August 3, but the wait for its larger sibling, the 737 Max 10, continues. The certification process was delayed due to the Max crisis in 2019, which led to a 21-month grounding of the global fleet. Design changes were required, contributing to the delay.
The Max 7's potential market is likely to remain constrained, according to Leeham News analysis. As a 'cut' of the Max 8, its design is not optimized for economic performance. Southwest Airlines holds orders for 262 of the type, but the operating costs are similar to those of the larger Max 8.
The Max 10, on the other hand, competes with the popular Airbus A321neo and has a much greater revenue potential. It can carry up to 210 passengers. Boeing still awaits certification of this largest member of the 737 MAX family, but airline customers hope it's not far behind.