FAA certifies Boeing 737 MAX 10, clearing path to deliveries

The Federal Aviation Administration has certified Boeing's 737 MAX 10, a regulatory milestone that clears the way for the planemaker to begin delivering the aircraft to airlines.

The approval covers the largest member of the 737 MAX family, a stretched variant that Boeing has placed at the top of its single-aisle lineup. Certification is a prerequisite before any commercial jet can carry passengers, making the decision a key gate for the program. Carriers that have ordered the jet had been waiting on the sign-off before scheduling it into their networks.

The MAX 10's route to this point has been closely watched across the industry. Boeing's 737 MAX family came under intense scrutiny after the worldwide grounding that followed two fatal crashes, and regulators have since sharpened their review of new variants and of production quality across the manufacturer's factories.

For Boeing, the certificate removes a significant source of uncertainty hanging over the program and gives airline customers a clearer view of when the aircraft will enter service. Attention now shifts to delivery preparations, with the first handovers marking the point at which the MAX 10 begins commercial flying.