Published Tuesday, October 20, 2026 in The Everett Herald
'New Legacy to Everett': Boeing's 737 MAX Gets Certified
By Jenna Millikan
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday the certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 10, clearing the way for the aerospace company to start deliveries.
It's been a long time coming for the newest and largest of the 737 MAX plane family, said United States Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at an event celebrating the milestone at Boeing’s Everett facility.
"To think that it took us almost 10 years to get here," Duffy said. "We all probably had a little less gray hair 10 years ago."
"Boeing introduced the MAX 10 in 2017. Four years after its launch, Boeing said it expected the 737 MAX 10 variant would be flying commercially in 2023, the Daily Herald previously reported. But issues with the deicing system of the plane’s engine delayed the certification of the 737 MAX 10 and the 737 MAX 7.
The MAX 7, the smallest member, received its certification in August, with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg saying certification for the MAX 10 is coming "very soon," during an industry conference the following month.
Stephanie Pope, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said Tuesday was a memorable day.
"There are very few times in aviation," Pope said, "that you get to witness the certification of two airplanes, not only in the same year but by the same team."
The 737-10 is the first commercial airplane certified ot the full extent of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, according to a Boeing press release. The act mandates enhanced documentation of safety assessment and human factors evaluations.
To achieve certification, the MAX 10 completed more than 2,000 total flight hours and 1,000 ground test hours, the release said.
As the largest 737 MAX, the newly certified variant can accommodate between 185 and 210 passengers in a two-class configuration with a flying range of 3,100 nautical miles, the release said. Technological advancements to the plane resulted in a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel use.
With the two airplanes certified within two months of each other, Chris Payne, vice president and program manager for the 737 Development Programs, teared up while thanking the team members who made the plan set 17 months ago possible.
"They were such good friends, and it just made it a pleasure to go through the hard work every single day together," he said after the presentation Tuesday.
The 737 program has created 210,000 jobs across Boeing, Duffy said in his speech.
Fred Siebert, a member of Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization unit, said seeing the airplane get certified was "like watching a child graduate."
The Organization Designation Authorization program lets authorized organizations perform certification functions on behalf of the FAA. The FAA issued an amended type certificate, confirming the aircraft complies with all applicable design and safety requirements, as well as an updated Production Limitation Record, which authorizes aircraft production, according to an FAA press release.
"The FAA’s decision follows a thorough review of the aircraft's design and safety requirements," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford in the release. "We will continue to hold Boeing to the highest safety standards as the company begins production of the 737 MAX-10."
This comes as Boeing works to eventually ramp 737 MAX production to 52 planes per month, a goal Everett's North Line is expected to help accomplish. Boeing's current production rate is 47 planes a month after the aerospace company passed the Federal Aviation Administration's capstone review.
The Everett production line produces the 737 MAX 8, 9 and 10, aside from the wings, which are produced at the Renton site and transported to Everett for final assembly.
When the Everett production line launched in July, the North Line was expected to help Boeing meet market demand, including its current order backlog of more than 4,300 airplanes, according to information the aerospace company shared at the time.
The new line is a "big step forward as Boeing brings a new legacy to Everett," said U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen Tuesday.
"Demand for jets is at a historic high," he said in his speech. "This new line, and the certification, enables Boeing to safely increase its monthly production, creating local jobs and serving airline customers a great product."
As of Tuesday, the MAX 10 represents more than 30% of unfilled 737 MAX orders, the Boeing release said. Customers have placed 7,350 orders for 737 MAX airplanes, while nearly 2,500 have been delivered through the end of September 2026.
https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/10/20/faa-certifies-boeings-737-max-10