FAA sees Boeing 737 MAX 7 certification this summer as production ramps up

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737 MAX 7 certification outlook

Highlights

Boeing 737 MAX 7 is expected to receive FAA certification this summer, with MAX 10 approval projected before the end of 2024.
The FAA supports Boeing's plan to increase 737 MAX production from 42 to 47 planes per month within 90 days, with a target of 52 by early next year.
Regulatory confidence in Boeing is improving, as timely MAX 7 and MAX 10 approvals would alleviate delivery bottlenecks and boost broader U.S. aerospace output.

Certification timeline and factory output

As reported by Reuters, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford says he expects the Boeing 737 MAX 7 to be certified this summer and the MAX 10 to be approved before the end of the year.

Speaking at an aviation forum in Washington, Bedford also says Boeing is likely to raise 737 MAX production again in the next 90 days. He says the FAA supports Boeing's move from 42 aircraft a month to 47 and indicates additional increases could follow within 30, 60 or 90 days.

The regulator approved Boeing in October to lift output to 42 planes per month, ending a cap of 38 that had been in place since January 2024. Boeing says it aims to reach 52 jets a month early next year after opening a fourth 737 production line in Everett, Washington.

The MAX 7 is the shortened variant of the MAX family alongside the MAX 8 and MAX 9, which are already in service. Boeing has faced delays in certifying the MAX 7 and MAX 10 because of an engine de-icing issue, while its 777X widebody program has also seen certification delays.

Safety oversight and implications for Boeing

Bedford says it is important for the country that Boeing succeeds, but adds that the priority is to embed quality and safety into aircraft at the factory rather than rely on rework later. He says Boeing is now providing more transparency to the FAA and engaging earlier to identify potential problems and build solutions into its quality system.

The production cap was originally imposed after the 2024 mid-air cabin blowout involving a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX aircraft. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says he is pretty confident the remaining phase of flight testing for the new 737 MAX engine anti-ice system will proceed without further setbacks.

The FAA's comments signal regulatory confidence is improving as Boeing works through safety and certification issues on its best-selling jet family. For the U.S. aerospace sector, approvals for the MAX 7 and MAX 10 would remove key bottlenecks in Boeing's delivery pipeline and support a broader increase in commercial aircraft output.

In our earlier article on Boeing’s progress in meeting FAA requirements to raise 737 MAX output to 47 aircraft per month, we explained why the step mattered for scaling production and improving revenue visibility. We also noted that, despite the operational milestone and new international industrial partnerships, mixed technical signals and signs of institutional selling kept the near-term market outlook cautious.

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