NewzBoeing’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. 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."Duffy is expected to speak about the decision later Tuesday during a visit to Boeing's manufacturing plant in Everett, Washington.The Max 10 — the largest version of Boeing’s bestselling 737 family — is an important piece of the company'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.Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement that “completing the certification program clears the path for us to deliver a Boeing airplane that will set a new standard in commercial aviation." The Max 10 will typically seat 185-210 passengers, according to Boeing, compared with 175-195 on the Max 9 and 160-180 on the Max 8.The single-aisle jet was introduced at the Paris air show in 2017 to help Boeing compete with rival Airbus. But technical and regulatory hurdles repeatedly delayed certification.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. More than 30 customers worldwide have ordered 1,555 Max 10s that Boeing has yet to deliver, accounting for more than 30% of its total 737 Max backlog.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…
government is set to announce Tuesday that it has approved Boeing’s 737 Max 10 airliner for passenger service after years of delays, a Transportation Department official told The Associated Press.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to announce the decision Tuesday afternoon during a visit to Boeing's manufacturing plant in Everett, Washington, the official said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the certification ahead of the announcement.The single-aisle 737 Max 10, 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 have 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.
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 is an important piece of Boeing’s effort to regain ground in the narrow-body market. The Federal Aviation Administration cleared the smaller Max 7 for airline operations in August.Boeing’s struggles have been particularly acute since two deadly crashes involving the smaller Max 8 killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019 off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia.
In 2024, a panel flew off of an Alaska Airlines Max 9 in midair, renewing scrutiny of Boeing’s manufacturing and safety practices.The Max 10 is intended to compete with Airbus’s A321neo model family, which entered service in 2017.
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