The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has certified Boeing’s 737-10, approving the amended type certificate for the largest 737 MAX variant and clearing the way for commercial deliveries in the coming months. The certification was completed on 20 October at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Washington, where Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy presented the documents to the manufacturer.
The approval completes certification of the four principal 737 MAX models. Boeing’s programme involved nearly 1,000 test flights, more than 2,000 flight hours, approximately 1,000 hours of ground testing, extensive safety assessments and design reviews, and tens of thousands of pages of documentation.
The 737-10 is the first commercial aircraft certified to the full requirements of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, including enhanced safety documentation and human-factors evaluations. Certification also covers an enhanced angle-of-attack system that Boeing plans to make standard across the 737 MAX family.
The aircraft can accommodate up to 230 passengers in a maximum-density layout, with Boeing citing a typical two-class capacity of about 185 to 210 seats. As the highest-capacity 737, it is intended to provide airlines with additional seats and lower per-seat economics within an established aircraft family.
The FAA approval removes the principal U.S. regulatory barrier, although Boeing must still demonstrate production conformity and obtain the required release for each aircraft before passenger operations. WestJet, the expected launch customer, anticipates receiving its first 737-10 in early 2027, subject to remaining approvals from Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.