Will the Boeing 737 MAX 10 and 7 be certified in 2026?
January 1, 2026
From prolonged groundings to design changes and repeated certification delays, the Boeing 737 MAX programme has faced sustained regulatory and public scrutiny. Boeing is now aiming to certify the smallest MAX 7 and the largest MAX 10 variants in 2026, bringing the final members of the MAX family into service.
Despite ongoing hurdles linked to engine anti-ice and cockpit alerting systems, the US manufacturer says it remains on track. Major customers, including WestJet and Ryanair, continue to adjust fleet plans as they await long-delayed deliveries.
What’s holding up certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10?
Boeing’s engineering practices and safety culture have been under intense scrutiny since the fatal crashes of two 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 2019, and the subsequent global grounding of the type. Investigations found that cockpit alerting systems provided limited or, at times, confusing information as pilots struggled with the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).
In response, the Federal Aviation Administration pushed Boeing to redesign elements of the cockpit alerting logic and engine anti-ice system to better support pilots during abnormal events.
Boeing has since completed design changes for both systems on the MAX 10, marking a key step towards certification. According to Aviation Week, Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the focus has now shifted to regulatory approval:
“We’ve spent thousands of hours getting that design done. Now it’s defining the certification plan, getting the FAA to accept that certification plan.”
The updated configuration includes an enhanced angle-of-attack system, allowing flight crews to suppress stall and overspeed alerts in specific abnormal scenarios. Boeing also plans to retrofit the revised alerting architecture across the entire MAX fleet, ensuring consistent compliance with certification standards.
The FAA has made clear that the redesigned systems, alongside other critical components, will undergo comprehensive review as part of the MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification programmes.
Boeing believes the MAX 7 and MAX 10 will be certified in 2026
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has repeatedly stressed that the company is prioritising thoroughness over speed as it works toward certification. While acknowledging the complexity of the process, Ortberg has maintained that both variants remain on track for approval next year.
The FAA formally began its certification review of both aircraft on 12 December. The regulator is currently conducting detailed testing of engine de-icing and flight deck alerting systems. While no firm certification dates have been set, progress will depend on Boeing meeting all regulatory requirements.
The FAA has emphasised that, although Boeing’s safety culture has shown signs of improvement, strict oversight will remain in place throughout the process. During Boeing’s recent earnings call, Ortberg reiterated his expectation that certification of both the MAX 7 and MAX 10 will happen in 2026.
What airlines are saying about MAX 7 and 10 timelines
Airlines with large MAX 10 and MAX 7 orders are closely tracking certification progress. Ryanair expects to receive its first MAX 10 aircraft in early 2027. Speaking during a November earnings call, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said Boeing remained confident in the timeline:
“They’re [Boeing] pretty confident that they’ll certify the MAX 7, even with the current government shutdown, in Q2 next year, and the MAX 10 in Q3, which will be about six months in advance of our first 15 MAX 10 deliveries in the spring of 2027.”
O’Leary added that Boeing had guaranteed delivery of Ryanair’s MAX 10 aircraft by spring 2027.
WestJet, the launch customer for the stretched MAX 10, expects the aircraft to enter service in late 2026. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines, the largest operator of the 737 MAX family, anticipates certification of the MAX 7 by the third quarter of 2026, with first deliveries following in early 2027.
So, will Boeing’s MAX 7 and MAX 10 be certified in 2026?
Based on current FAA review activity, Boeing’s public commitments, and airline delivery planning, certification in 2026 remains the most likely outcome. However, with no fixed approval dates and heightened regulatory scrutiny still in place, the timeline remains conditional on Boeing meeting every remaining certification requirement without further setbacks.
Featured Image: Boeing
