Boeing has received FAA certification for the 737 MAX 7, ending the last major regulatory hurdle for the smallest member of the 737 MAX family and clearing the aircraft for commercial service. The amended type certificate, issued on 3 August, is most significant for Southwest Airlines, the launch customer and principal orderholder for the model.
The approval follows a prolonged certification process shaped by the aftermath of the 737 MAX crashes and later quality and safety scrutiny across Boeing’s commercial programme. Boeing said the clearance came after sustained work to resolve technical issues and complete a detailed safety review. The company’s order book lists 282 unfilled MAX 7 orders, with Bloomberg reporting that those aircraft are predominantly tied to Southwest.
Boeing and Southwest are already preparing for the first delivery, although no handover date has been disclosed. The manufacturer’s wider 737 MAX family order book exceeds 7,200 aircraft, with more than 2,300 delivered by the end of June 2026.