MYAVIATION MAGAZINE | AIRCRAFT & AEROSPACE
17 October 2026
The Boeing 737 MAX 10 could receive certification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as early as next week, following a key regulatory review that brings the long-delayed aircraft closer to approval.
Reuters reported on 16 October that three people familiar with the matter indicated the FAA could approve the aircraft following a Type Certification Board meeting held on Friday. The regulator has not announced a final decision or confirmed a certification date.
The MAX 10, the largest variant of Boeing’s 737 MAX family, has faced delays involving technical requirements and heightened regulatory scrutiny. The programme has progressed under close oversight following the fatal 737 MAX 8 accidents in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019.
Technical challenges have included concerns involving the aircraft’s engine anti-ice system and a recently identified navigation software issue. On 2 October, the FAA determined that the software issue did not present a safety concern requiring correction as a condition of certification, according to Reuters.
Boeing has accumulated nearly 1,500 orders for the MAX 10, representing approximately 30 per cent of its outstanding 737 order backlog. The aircraft is intended to provide airlines with greater passenger capacity within the single-aisle market.
Major airline customers with commitments involving the MAX 10 include United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Ryanair. Its eventual introduction into commercial service will depend on regulatory approval, aircraft deliveries and the completion of applicable operational requirements.
The anticipated decision follows the FAA’s certification of the smaller Boeing 737 MAX 7 in August 2026, marking another milestone in Boeing’s efforts to complete the approval process across the aircraft family.
The FAA has maintained that safety requirements, rather than commercial schedules, determine the timing of certification.
Source: Reuters, 16 October 2026.
Reporting: MyAviation Magazine News Desk.
