Boeing wins FAA approval for 737 Max 10 after years of delays

The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday signed off on the Boeing 737 Max 10 after years of delays, a major win for the manufacturer and the last in Boeing’s best-selling family of jets to get government approval.

The green light comes weeks after federal officials reviewed a navigation system glitch on the aircraft but deemed it was not a safety-of-flight issue.

The 737 Max 10, the largest model in the family, was set to start flying in 2020, but increased scrutiny following two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 and other safety issues delayed its certification. Engineering changes were also required, including to an anti-icing system for the aircraft’s engines.

“The FAA’s decision follows a thorough review of the aircraft’s design and safety requirements,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “We will continue to hold Boeing to the highest safety standards.”

CEO Kelly Ortberg said at a Morgan Stanley conference on Sept. 16 that orders for the aircraft make up about 30% of Boeing’s backlog. Customers include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Airlines can finally start flying passengers soon after planes are certified, but it can take months for carriers to work them into schedules.

United CEO Scott Kirby told CNBC in August that the airline had been waiting so long for the Max 10 that the lie-flat seats it expected for the plane no longer make sense and are sitting in a warehouse. Alaska Airlines last month said it plans to put lie-flat seats on some of its 737 Max 10s in a push for more premium offerings.

The FAA approved the smallest model of the 737 Max family, the Max 7, in early August.

Boeing has been working to ramp up production of its 737 Maxes and 787 Dreamliners, which are key to its recovery since airlines and other customers pay the bulk of the aircraft’s price upon delivery. The manufacturer opened a fourth production line in Everett, Washington, in July for its 737 Max airplanes.