Boeing has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for its 737 Max 10, the largest version of its best-selling narrow-body aircraft family, ending a certification process delayed for six years. The announcement on Tuesday clears the way for Boeing to begin delivering the Max 10, with initial deliveries expected to start in the coming months.
The 737 Max 10, which can accommodate up to 230 passengers, is a critical part of Boeing’s strategy to regain market share against European rival Airbus. Airlines have increasingly favored larger narrow-body planes like the Max 10 to meet growing global travel demand and manage airport congestion. The Max 10 accounts for more than 30 percent of Boeing’s outstanding 737 Max orders, with over 1,550 jets reportedly on order. Major customers include United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Ryanair.
The Max 10’s approval follows the FAA’s recent certification of the smallest Max model, the Max 7, which holds up to 172 passengers. Boeing had initially targeted a 2020 certification for the Max 10, but the process was delayed largely due to the fallout from two fatal Max 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in 346 deaths. These incidents led to a nearly two-year global grounding of the 737 Max fleet and prompted Boeing to redesign several safety features.
Among the upgrades introduced on the Max 10 is a new enhanced angle-of-attack system that provides a third sensor input to improve the accuracy of flight control data. This comes after previous crashes involved erroneous sensor data triggering faulty automated systems. Boeing has stated the new system will reduce the likelihood of erroneous inputs and help ease pilot workload.
Additional setbacks occurred in 2024 when a component detached from a Max 9 during flight, further complicating safety reviews. To secure certification, Boeing also implemented other safety retrofits, including modifications to the engine’s anti-icing system.
The Max 10 competes primarily with Airbus’s A321neo series, which offers some advantages in passenger capacity and range. Despite this, Boeing’s updated design aims to offer increased seating capacity and improved fuel efficiency compared with older models, a feature attractive to airlines amid rising fuel costs.
Boeing’s 737 family has faced challenges in recent years as Airbus has gained prominence in the narrow-body market. Currently, more than 10,200 Airbus narrow-body jets are in active service globally, surpassing Boeing’s approximately 8,200. The Max 10 certification marks a significant milestone in Boeing’s ongoing efforts to recover from its safety and production difficulties and to strengthen its position in commercial aviation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the certification as “a major win for American manufacturing and our nation’s status as a global aviation powerhouse,” while FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized that Boeing would continue to be held to the highest safety standards. The company’s CEO of commercial airplanes, Stephanie Pope, stated that the completion of the certification program paves the way to deliver an airplane that sets a “new standard in commercial aviation.”