Boeing 737 MAX 10 Receives Type Certificate from the FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it has approved the commercial passenger flight type certificate for the Boeing 737 MAX 10, the largest member of the 737 family, following years of comprehensive reviews.
Approximately 167 centimeters (66 inches) longer than the MAX 9 and capable of offering a capacity of up to 230 passengers, the MAX 10 is designed to compete directly with the Airbus A321neo model.
With the completion of the approval process, the way has been paved for the delivery of the aircraft to domestic and foreign carriers, featuring new safety features such as an enhanced angle of attack sensor integrated into the flight control systems in accordance with the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and NTSB recommendations.
In a statement regarding the decision, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy said, “Following comprehensive safety reviews that included thousands of hours of test flights, the FAA team is ready to approve the sale of this critical aircraft.” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford noted that the aircraft design and safety requirements were meticulously reviewed, and that they will continue to hold Boeing to the highest standards during the production process.
Alaska Airlines Supports the MAX 10 Decision
Expecting its first delivery in the second quarter of 2027, Alaska Airlines emphasized that they welcomed the FAA’s certification step and that this milestone is a key part of their long-term fleet strategy.
Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group, highlighted the MAX 10’s role in the airline’s future, stating: “These modern and fuel-efficient aircraft will raise the bar for comfort on transcontinental flights. We will provide better service to our guests with our new Aurora lie-flat suites, which will be featured on at least 25 aircraft. The certification of the MAX 10 has been a rigorous and deliberate process, and we are grateful for the FAA and Boeing’s efforts to bring this vision to life.”
Alaska Airlines currently has 168 firm orders in the 737 MAX program, and the vast majority of these orders consist of the MAX 10. As part of this purchase, which is the largest order in the airline’s history, at least 25 MAX 10 aircraft will feature 12 Aurora Suites; thus, a lie-flat seating arrangement will be offered for the first time in the carrier’s 737 fleet.
Preferred by more than 30 customers worldwide, the MAX 10 represents over 30 percent of the 737 MAX program’s total order book with 1,555 orders received to date.
