The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has certified Boeing’s 737-10, also known as the 737 MAX 10, clearing the way for production and deliveries to domestic and international airline customers. The amended type certificate was issued at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Washington, on 20 October. Boeing expects customer deliveries to begin in 2027, although the approval enables them to start in the coming months.
The FAA also issued an updated Production Limitation Record authorising manufacture of the aircraft. Certification confirms that the design meets applicable safety and airworthiness requirements, but individual aircraft must still demonstrate conformity before entering passenger service.
The certification campaign included nearly 1,000 test flights, more than 2,000 flight hours and about 1,000 hours of ground testing, alongside extensive documentation and formal regulatory reviews. The FAA required flight-control updates and an enhanced angle-of-attack sensor system to meet provisions of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. The system is expected to become standard across the 737 MAX family.
The MAX 10 is the largest 737 MAX variant, with capacity for up to 230 passengers. Boeing gives a typical two-class configuration of 185 to 210 seats and a range of up to 3,100 nautical miles (5,740 km). The approval completes certification of the four-model MAX lineup after the smaller MAX 7 received approval earlier this year.
The aircraft first flew in June 2021 and had originally been scheduled to enter service in 2023. Boeing has 1,555 MAX 10 orders from more than 30 customers, but the FAA has not identified the first delivery customer or set a date for the first commercial passenger flight.