Boeing completes certification testing for the smallest and largest 737 MAX variants
Boeing has advanced the long-delayed certification of its 737 MAX family, completing planned certification flight testing for both the smallest 737 MAX 7 and the largest 737 MAX 10.
The two aircraft variants are now awaiting final certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Boeing expects the MAX 7 to be certified first, followed shortly afterwards by the MAX 10.
During Boeing’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call, the planemaker confirmed that both aircraft remain on track for entry into service in 2027.
Final 737 MAX 10 certification flight completed
On July 28, Boeing announced that the 737 MAX 10 has completed its final planned certification flight, bringing to a close years of flight testing for the largest member of the MAX family.
Boeing tested cabin systems on the final flight. Engineers checked the audibility of the lavatory smoke detector and the cabin public address system. The successful completion of these tests confirms that flight crews can hear onboard safety alerts and respond quickly in case of an emergency.
The aircraft, donning United Airlines livery, departed from and returned to King County International Airport at Boeing Field in Seattle.
“This was an important flight for me,” said Dan Mangel, the Boeing pilot who flew the final 737-10 flight test. “I did the first flight of this particular aeroplane four years ago, and this is the final certification test flight of the Boeing inventory for this aeroplane. So, I got to see the aeroplane from one end to the other. It was a bit of an emotional day.”
According to Boeing, the MAX 10 certification programme has now completed:
- 100% of planned certification flight testing
- Development Assurance Review (DAR) 3
- More than 2,000 flight test hours
- Nearly 1,000 certification flights
Development Assurance Review 4 and remaining system safety assessments continue ahead of FAA approval.
Boeing: 737 MAX 7, MAX 10 deliveries on track for 2027
Speaking during Boeing’s second-quarter earnings call, President and CEO Kelly Ortberg said certification work on both aircraft is now entering its final stages.
“On 737-10, we recently completed our final test flight and expect certification following the 737-7,” Ortberg said. “These certifications pave the way for both aeroplane variants to start deliveries in 2027.”
Ortberg also noted the importance of the two aircraft to Boeing’s commercial strategy, saying they will offer customers greater efficiency and capability and expand the MAX family’s market coverage.
Completing the 737 MAX family
Unlike the already certified MAX 8 and MAX 9, both the MAX 7 and MAX 10 have faced years of delays following the worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX and subsequent regulatory reforms.
Certification was further complicated by changes required to the aircraft’s engine anti-ice system, as well as additional scrutiny from the FAA following the 2024 Alaska Airlines door-plug accident.
Completing the final round of flight testing clears one of the final major technical hurdles ahead of certification. Boeing still needs to complete documentation, system safety assessments, and undergo regulatory review before the FAA issues type certification.
Why the MAX 7 and MAX 10 matter
The two aircraft bookend Boeing’s single-aisle lineup. The 737 MAX 7 is the smallest variant, offering airlines improved economics on thinner routes while replacing older 737-700 aircraft. Launch customer Southwest Airlines has 256 MAX 7s on firm order, making it by far the aircraft’s largest customer.
At the opposite end of the family, the MAX 10 is Boeing’s answer to the Airbus A321neo. With seating for up to around 230 passengers in a high-density configuration, it is designed to compete in one of the fastest-growing segments of the narrowbody market.
United Airlines, the largest customer for the 737 MAX 10 with 167 aircraft on order, is expected to be among the first operators once certification is complete. The airline has said the delays have forced it to adjust fleet planning and retain older aircraft for longer while it waits for deliveries to begin in 2027.
Certification of the MAX 10 is important to Boeing because the company lacks a certified aircraft capable of directly challenging the A321neo, which has become Airbus’s best-selling single-aisle model.
The MAX 10 accounts for more than a quarter of Boeing’s outstanding 737 MAX backlog, making its certification a critical commercial priority.
Boeing production recovering
The certification progress comes as Boeing continues to recover operationally.
During the second quarter, the company delivered 171 commercial aircraft and generated positive free cash flow of $631 million.
Ortberg said production stability continues to improve.
“On 737, we’re now ramping to 47 aeroplanes per month after a successful capstone review in May and expect factory rollouts to reach 47 per month this summer,” he said during the Q2 earnings call. “We’re closely monitoring our key performance indicators in the factory. And so far, early results are within our expectations, driven by the fundamental improvements we made to factory health.”
Ortberg also confirmed that the first delivery of the company’s newest widebody 777-9 remains on schedule for 2027.
