Boeing 737 MAX 7 Nears FAA Certification by End of July 2026

Boeing is expected to secure Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for the 737 MAX 7 before the end of July 2026, bringing an end to a certification process that has stretched for several years. The approval would allow airlines to begin preparing the aircraft for commercial service and clear dozens of completed jets awaiting delivery.

The milestone is particularly important for Southwest Airlines (WN), the largest customer for the variant, which has delayed fleet renewal plans while waiting for the aircraft to receive regulatory clearance.

FAA Decision Expected This Month

People familiar with the certification program indicate that the FAA is nearing its final review of the 737 MAX 7, with approval anticipated before July concludes. Passenger operations cannot begin until the aircraft receives its official type certification.

The MAX 7 is the smallest member of Boeing’s 737 MAX family, a successor to the long-running 737 series that has remained the manufacturer’s bestselling commercial aircraft for decades.

The expected approval represents another step in Boeing’s recovery following years of heightened regulatory oversight after two fatal MAX 8 crashes and the Alaska Airlines door-plug accident that renewed scrutiny of the manufacturer’s production and quality systems.

An FAA spokesperson said certification will only be granted once all safety requirements have been satisfied. Boeing has also reiterated recent comments by CEO Kelly Ortberg indicating that discussions with regulators are progressing as planned.

Southwest Airlines Poised to Receive Parked Aircraft

Few airlines stand to benefit more from the certification than Southwest Airlines.

The carrier, which operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, has been unable to introduce the MAX 7 as originally planned, forcing it to continue flying older Boeing 737-700 aircraft with an average fleet age of around two decades.

According to recent company filings, Southwest has ordered 258 Boeing 737 MAX 7 aircraft. Around two dozen examples have already been assembled and are currently stored at Moses Lake (MWH) in Washington, awaiting certification before delivery.

Although the aircraft could be handed over once regulatory approval is received, Southwest has indicated that passenger operations with the type are expected to begin next year.

Boeing Expected to Regain Certification Authority

Alongside the MAX 7 approval, the FAA is also expected to restore another important responsibility to Boeing.

The regulator is preparing to return the manufacturer’s authority to perform final airworthiness approvals on newly built 737 aircraft. That authority was withdrawn in 2019 following the worldwide grounding of the MAX fleet, Wall Street Journal reported.

The FAA partially restored certification responsibilities last year by allowing Boeing to issue selected airworthiness certificates. The latest move would further expand the company’s role in the delivery process.

Production Expands as Demand Recovers

Boeing continues increasing 737 production to meet airline demand.

Earlier this year, the manufacturer activated a new 737 MAX assembly line at Everett (PAE), Washington, bringing additional manufacturing capacity online at a facility that had previously remained unused after production changes involving other aircraft programs.

Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg recently told investors that certification work on Boeing’s remaining MAX variants had entered its final phase, expressing confidence that both programs would conclude before the end of 2026.

Years of Delays Followed Safety Crises

The MAX 7 was originally expected to enter commercial service in 2019, but Boeing’s timeline changed dramatically after two fatal accidents involving the larger 737 MAX 8.

The first crash occurred in Indonesia during October 2018, followed by a second accident in Ethiopia less than five months later. Together, the tragedies claimed 346 lives and prompted the global grounding of every 737 MAX aircraft while Boeing redesigned flight control systems and completed extensive certification work.

The MAX 7 program later encountered another delay after Boeing agreed to incorporate an additional design modification requested during congressional safety discussions led by Senator Tammy Duckworth, further extending the approval process.

MAX 10 Remains Boeing’s Final Certification Goal

Following approval of the MAX 7, Boeing’s remaining certification priority will be the larger 737 MAX 10.

The aircraft has attracted significant orders from carriers including United Airlines (UA) and Delta Air Lines (DL), two of the three largest airline fleets in the world.  Boeing has already begun manufacturing the variant ahead of its anticipated certification later this year, which would complete the regulatory approval process for every member of the 737 MAX family.