The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 on Oct. 20, making its largest MAX jet eligible for delivery and moving a 1,555-aircraft order backlog closer to service.
Boeing said more than 30 customers have ordered the model. Those aircraft represent more than 30% of the MAX program’s current order book. The company said deliveries could begin in the coming months but gave no date for the first one.
The FAA approved the jet’s design through an amended type certificate and updated Boeing’s production authorization. The agency said the aircraft can be delivered to airlines in the United States and abroad.
Boeing lists 185 to 210 seats for a typical two-class cabin, with room for up to 230 in a maximum configuration. The Associated Press said the added capacity may let airlines spread a flight’s costs across more passengers. Whether travelers pay less would depend on the routes airlines choose and the competition on those routes, the AP said.
The approval followed safety changes required under federal law and recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. They include an enhanced angle-of-attack sensor in the flight-control system. Certification also started deadlines for upgrades across the U.S.-registered MAX fleet. Federal law assigns the cost of those enhancements to the aircraft’s type-certificate holder.
Boeing launched the MAX 10 in June 2017. It said certification involved more than 2,000 flight-test hours and 1,000 ground-test hours. Reuters reported that Airbus’ A321neo gained market share among larger single-aisle jets while Boeing awaited approval.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Senior Vice President Mike Sinnett told Reuters he expected approvals from Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in “probably a couple months.” Reuters also reported that WestJet was slated to receive the first aircraft in early 2027. Boeing has not announced a firm first-delivery date.
