The FAA certified Boeing's 737-10 on Tuesday, clearing the company to start delivering its largest single-aisle jet after years of regulatory delay.
By the numbers: The certification program ran nearly 1,000 test flights, more than 2,000 flight hours and 1,000 ground test hours. More than 30 customers have ordered 1,555 of the jets, over 30% of Boeing's current 737 MAX backlog.
- The 737-10 seats up to 230 passengers in maximum configuration and typically 185 to 210 in two classes, compared with 175 to 195 on the MAX 9 and 160 to 180 on the MAX 8.
The backstory: Boeing introduced the jet at the 2017 Paris air show to compete with the Airbus A321neo, then hit repeated technical and regulatory hurdles. Two crashes of the smaller MAX 8 killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, and a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines MAX 9 in midair in 2024.
- The 737-10 is the first commercial airplane certified to the full extent of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, which mandates enhanced documentation of safety assessments and human factors evaluations.
What they're saying: "Today is a very, very special day. It caps years of hard work and dedication by many," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "It marks another major milestone in our recovery, and it unlocks a key to our future growth."
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who presented the certificate at Boeing's Everett plant, said it followed extensive safety reviews. "To think that it took us almost 10 years to get here. We all probably had a little less gray hair 10 years ago," he said.
Yes, but: The largest A321neo still carries more passengers and flies farther without refueling than the 737-10, per NPR. Boeing expects to begin deliveries in 2027.
Why it matters: Major customers include United, Delta, American and Ryanair, plus Alaska Airlines, which ordered 105 in January with options for 35 more. More seats per departure is how airlines absorb jet fuel costs, so travellers get more seats on busy routes while fares depend on how carriers deploy the planes.
