FAA Grants Type Certification for Boeing’s Long-Delayed 737 MAX 10

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally issued an amended type certificate for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 and is now ready to carry passengers. On October 20, the announcement was made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a visit to Boeing’s new 737 factory line in Everett, Washington. 

Boeing revealed this jet in 2019 and were planned to start the delivery by 2020, but the approval took years. And finally, after years of delays, the jet is all set to deliver to airlines. 

Key takeaways

• On October 20, 2026, the FAA approved the design and safety standard of 737 MAX 10. 

• The delivery is about to begin, and airlines are expected to bring the jet into operation by early 2027. 

• Wesjet will be the first airline to receive the aircraft, followed by Alaska Airlines and Ryanair. 

• Some airlines are still concerned about the software issues on a few 737 MAX jets. 

Why Did It Take So Long?

In late 2020, the Congress passed the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA), due to which the FAA had to be more strict with the testing of the aircraft. There were several problems that slowed the jet entry in the market: 

• Safety checks after two fatal crashes: In two consecutive years, 2018 & 2019, 737 MAX 8 (another Boeing product) went through accidents, due to which they had to be more careful with the safety standards and regular supervision of the FAA.

• Engine anti-ice problem: The system designed to prevent ice build-up on the engines can damage them if they are used for an extended period of time. Boeing corrected this with a new design late last year.

• Angle-of-attack system: Boeing completed tests of an improved version of this system. It has been designed to simplify cockpit displays and prevent false warnings.

• Software glitch: There was a software glitch that became another reason for the delay. Boeing has been fixing it since its launch. 

The Testing Behind the Approval

On June 18, 2021, the MAX 10 made its maiden flight from Renton to Grant County. And since then, the testing phase has been continued for the next five years. Here is how it was: 

• There were 976 testing flights

• More than 2,060 flight hours

Finally, the big day came on Friday, October 16, when Boeing and the FAA held a Type Certification Board meeting. According to a report by The Air Current, Boeing submitted its final Project Statement of Completion. The FAA approved early this week. Sean Duffy came and said, "After extensive safety reviews, including thousands of hours of test flights, the team at the FAA is ready to approve this critical aircraft for sale."

About the 737 MAX 10

The aircraft is designed for busy and medium-length routes and will have direct competition with the Airbus A321neo. Boeing stated they are offering the best per-seat cost of any other single-aisle jet available in the market, and airlines that are already using the other model of Boeing can save money on the pilot training and maintenance. 

The president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, stated, "Completing the certification program clears the path for us to deliver a Boeing airplane that will set a new standard in commercial aviation. The 737-10 offers greater capacity, longer range and the best seat economics in its class, a platform that will create more value and opportunities for airlines around the world."

Who Ordered the Most?

United was the first airline in 2017 to order the MAX 10, and Ryanair has also claimed that they can take up to 300 jets. Here is a detailed report of which airline has ordered how much aircraft. 

When Will Passengers Fly on It?

Airlines will not start flying the MAX 10 right away. What has been announced so far:

• WstJet: It is the first in the line to receive the delivery and will start the operations with the 737 MAX as soon as Transport Canada also approves the jet. They might start the use by early 2027. 

• Alaska Airlines: They are expected to receive its first order in spring 2027 and might start the passenger flight by mid-May. 

• Ryanair: The airline is expecting to receive its first order of 16 aircraft in the spring of 2027. 

One Issue Still Open

There is an issue with the software of some 737 MAX aircraft. The vertical navigation system can fail in some cases where the aircraft has missed its landing spot, adding to the amount of work for pilots at a crucial moment. It won't be judged a safety risk as pilots keep full control. But United and Southwest have stated they won't take aircraft fitted with the impacted software.

Boeing's Bigger Picture

All four model variants of the 737 MAX are now FAA approved. The 737 MAX 7 was approved less than three months ago, in August. Delivered to almost 2,500 users, the MAX 8 and MAX 9 are already spreading worldwide.

In July 2026, Boeing began building a new 737 MAX assembly line in Everett. It is the fourth 737 MAX line and first off the Renton, Washington, lines. Boeing is now able to produce up to 52 planes per month at the facility and could increase production in the future.