EVERETT — The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday certified Boeing’s 737-10, the largest model in the 737 MAX family, clearing the way for deliveries to begin in the coming months.
“Completing the certification program clears the path for us to deliver a Boeing airplane that will set a new standard in commercial aviation. The 737-10 offers greater capacity, longer range and the best seat economics in its class, a platform that will create more value and opportunities for airlines around the world,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are also delighted to complete the 737 MAX family and provide our customers the most-efficient and flexible single-aisle airplane portfolio in the industry.”
The amended type certificate completes the MAX lineup of single-aisle jets. Boeing said the 737-10 can seat up to 230 passengers in a maximum configuration, offers the lowest per-seat costs of any single-aisle airplane in service, and provides 365 nautical miles more range than competitors without auxiliary fuel tanks. It also includes an enhanced angle-of-attack system that will become standard across the MAX family.
More than 30 customers have ordered 1,555 of the aircraft, representing more than 30% of the unfilled 737 MAX order book. Through the end of September, Boeing had delivered nearly 2,500 of the 7,350 MAX jets ordered overall.
The 737-10 is the first commercial airplane certified to the full extent of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, which required enhanced documentation of safety assessments and human factors evaluations. Boeing said the certification program included more than 2,000 flight hours and 1,000 ground test hours, along with extensive documentation and meetings with the FAA.
Chris Payne, vice president and general manager of 737 Airplane Development Programs, said the flight test team “ran a disciplined, methodical campaign to validate every system.”
The approval comes as Boeing ramps up 737 MAX production after years of tight FAA oversight that followed the January 2024 midair door-plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. That incident led the FAA to cap production at 38 planes per month. The FAA later approved increases, including a rise to 42 per month in October 2025.
In May 2026, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the company had passed the FAA’s capstone review, clearing a path to 47 aircraft per month and creating hundreds of jobs at the Everett factory’s new “North Line.”
Ortberg said at the time that key performance indicators were positive and that the company expected to reach the higher rate in the coming months. The 737-10 was then roughly 80% through certification flight testing. The North Line, which opened in summer 2026, can build all MAX models and initially focuses on the 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10. Boeing has been hiring up to 140 factory workers a week to support higher rates and new models.
The MAX family covers 135 to 230 seats. Typical two-class configurations include 135-160 seats for the 737-7 (range up to 3,800 nautical miles), 160-180 for the 737-8 (up to 3,500 nm), 175-195 for the 737-9 (up to 3,300 nm), and 185-210 for the 737-10 (up to 3,100 nm). Boeing said technological advances yield a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel use for the 737-10.
The FAA certified the smaller 737-7 earlier in 2026. Boeing produces most 737 MAX aircraft in Renton, with the Everett line replicating those processes aside from a new wing transport tool.
Author: Mario Lotmore
