Boeing 737 MAX 7 wins long-delayed FAA approval

US regulators have certified the Boeing 737 MAX 7, the smallest version of Boeing's single-aisle MAX aircraft, more than eight years after its first flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that the approval followed “almost a decade of extensive review” and years of work to resolve technical issues. Boeing said it was preparing the first aircraft for delivery to launch customer Southwest Airlines.

Boeing had originally planned to begin deliveries of the 172-seat aircraft in 2019. The certification process was prolonged by new federal requirements introduced after two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.

Boeing completed 441 flight tests over 686 test flight hours to win certification.

A contributing factor in the two fatal crashes was the design of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, which activated improperly and prevented pilots from regaining control. US prosecutors charged that Boeing misled FAA regulators about MCAS, leaving the system out of manuals and pilot training materials.

The MAX family was also affected by a January 2024 Alaska Airlines flight in which a fuselage panel blew out mid-flight. Monday's approval is Boeing's first certification of a new aircraft since the safety problems that have affected the company in recent years.

Boeing is also close to winning certification for the 737 MAX 10, the largest MAX model, which has a maximum of 230 seats. The certification process has included FAA reviews of a revamped enhanced angle of attack sensor after a defect contributed to the 2018 and 2019 crashes.

The FAA has approved Boeing MAX production increases from 38 to 42 aircraft a month and then from 42 to 47. Boeing opened a new MAX production line in Everett, Washington, in July, which is expected to help the programme reach 52 aircraft a month.

Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg said he did not foresee supply-chain problems in raising monthly MAX production to 52 jets, but said increases beyond that could become harder. Boeing shares were up 6.9 percent in afternoon trading.