Boeing is said to near FAA approval for 737 Max 10 after years of delays

Boeing (BA) is on track to secure final Federal Aviation Administration certification for its long-delayed 737 Max 10 as early as this fall, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the process. The milestone would remove a key obstacle to expanding deliveries of its largest narrowbody jet.

For investors, approval of the Max 10 would complete Boeing's 737 Max lineup and strengthen its position against Airbus in the highly profitable single-aisle aircraft market. The certification would also pave the way for additional deliveries and cash flow as Boeing continues its financial recovery following years of production and regulatory setbacks.

The FAA is expected to certify the Max 10 in September or October, assuming no significant issues emerge before then. The timing remains subject to change as regulators complete the remaining review work.

Certification of the smaller 737 Max 7 is expected first, potentially by late July or early August, according to the news report.

The FAA said it expects to approve both aircraft variants in the coming months but emphasized that safety requirements, rather than a fixed schedule, will determine the timing. 

The Max 7 and Max 10 have faced years of certification delays, preventing Boeing from offering a complete family of 737 Max aircraft. The Max 10, which seats up to 230 passengers, is designed to compete directly with Airbus' popular A321neo.

Earlier this month, Boeing (BA) said flight testing for the Max 10 was about 98% complete, with only two test flights remaining. The company added that certification work is still underway, including completion of required safety analyses and other regulatory reviews before the FAA can grant final approval.