FAA Set to Approve Boeing 737 MAX 10 Next Week

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to approve the Boeing 737 MAX 10 as early as next week. This follows the completion of a key safety review by the Type Certification Board on October 16.

The larger variant of the 737 MAX faced significant delays due to a more stringent certification process implemented after fatal MAX 8 crashes and a 2024 Alaska Airlines mid-air cabin panel blowout. Boeing also encountered an anti-ice system problem in 2023 and a navigation software glitch in September 2024, though the FAA determined the software issue did not pose a safety concern.

Approval represents a critical milestone for Boeing's financial recovery. The MAX 10 accounts for approximately 30% of the company's 737 backlog, with nearly 1,500 orders from major carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. These certification delays previously allowed competitor Airbus to increase its share of the large single-aisle market.