Boeing's 737 Max 10 airliner has been approved for passenger service after years of delays, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday. The Max 10's certification represents another milestone in Boeing's efforts to restore its reputation and financial footing after years of safety, quality, and production challenges, the AP reports. With production approved, the aircraft can now be sold to domestic and foreign carriers.
- "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," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. "This is a major win for American manufacturing and our nation's status as a global aviation powerhouse."
- "The FAA's decision follows a thorough review of the aircraft's design and safety requirements," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement, per the Seattle Times. "We will continue to hold Boeing to the highest safety standards as the company begins production of the 737 Max 10."
The Max 10 is an important piece of Boeing's effort to regain ground in the narrow-body market. For airlines, the larger plane offers a way to carry more passengers on a single flight, potentially lowering costs per seat. For travelers, it could eventually mean more seats on popular routes, though the impact on fares will depend on how airlines deploy the planes and how much competition they face.
- The single-aisle jet, which can have up to 230 seats, was introduced at the Paris air show in 2017 to help Boeing compete with rival Airbus. But technical and regulatory hurdles repeatedly delayed certification of the largest version of Boeing's bestselling 737 family. Boeing said in its 2020 annual report that it expected to make the plane's first delivery in 2023. The company now expects to begin deliveries in 2027.
- The delays have held up a key part of Boeing's business. Speaking at an investors conference last month, CEO Kelly Ortberg said the Max 10 accounted for roughly 30% of Boeing's 737 backlog. The company's website lists its total 737 backlog at more than 4,500 aircraft.
- The Max 10's certification completes the lineup of four 737 Max models. The FAA cleared the smaller Max 7 for airline operations in August. Boeing is still working to certify its 777X lineup of two passenger aircraft and a freighter, the Times reports.
- Major customers for the Max 10 include United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Ryanair. Alaska Airlines joined that list in January, ordering 105 Max 10s, with options for 35 more.
- In the wake of two fatal Max 8 crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, the FAA overhauled how it certifies Boeing aircraft. But over the past 18 months, the agency has gradually eased some of its restrictions on the company, increasing the limit on how many planes Boeing can produce
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