The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
U.S. aviation regulator approves long-delayed 737 Max 10 for service
Nearly a decade after Boeing unveiled its largest 737 Max jet, the company has cleared a major hurdle in its effort to bring the plane to airlines.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has given the 737 Max 10 clearance to enter passenger service, marking a major regulatory milestone for Boeing nearly a decade after the jet’s unveiling.
The certification follows extensive safety reviews and thousands of hours of test flights, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who spoke during a visit to Boeing’s Everett, Washington plant.
Boeing says the Max 10 will typically seat 185-210 passengers, a capacity increase aimed at delivering lower costs per seat for airlines and potentially more seats on popular routes for travelers.
Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027, with the aircraft designed to compete in the single-aisle market and to provide a fuel-efficient option for airlines facing rising jet fuel costs.
The certification completes the lineup of four 737 Max models, and comes after years of safety and production challenges that have affected Boeing’s reputation and backlog of orders, which include more than 30 customers and 1,555 Max 10s yet to be delivered.