FAA certifies Boeing 737 Max 7 after years of delays

The Federal Aviation Administration granted certification to the Boeing 737 Max 7 on August 3, 2026, ending a nearly decade-long approval process. The agency stated that the clearance reflects years of sustained work to resolve complex technical issues and complete a thorough review of the airplane’s design and supporting safety analyses.

The smallest member of the 737 Max family, the Max 7, had been anticipated by carriers such as Southwest Airlines before the pandemic. Its path to certification was slowed by heightened regulatory oversight following the fatal crashes of the Max 8 in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people, along with other safety and manufacturing crises and the redesign of an engine anti-icing system.

The FAA required the Max 7 to incorporate key improvements that address mandates in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board. These updates include revisions to the flight-control software, the flightcrew alerting system, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system that prevents overheating.

Boeing’s stock rose more than 5% in afternoon trading on August 3, 2026. The manufacturer did not immediately comment on the certification. Airlines can begin flying passengers soon after planes are certified, though it may take months to integrate the aircraft into schedules.

The approval marks a step forward for Boeing as it works to regain the trust of the FAA. In mid-July 2026, the agency restored Boeing’s authority to issue airworthiness certificates for its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, a power that had been revoked after the Max 8 crashes. Boeing has also been ramping up production of the 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner, which are critical to its recovery, and opened a new 737 Max production line in Everett, Washington, in July 2026.

Boeing is still awaiting FAA certification for the 737 Max 10, the largest variant in the family, which some carriers had expected to start flying in 2020, as well as for the 777X, its biggest plane.