Boeing 737 Max 10 to finally be approved for US flights after years of safety concerns

Following years of regulatory delays, the U.S. government is expected to declare on Tuesday that Boeing’s 737 Max 10 airliner has received approval for commercial passenger flights, according to a Transportation Department official.The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly ahead of the announcement, stated that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is scheduled to share the decision Tuesday afternoon during a visit to Boeing's plant in Everett, Washington.First unveiled at the Paris air show in 2017 to challenge competitor Airbus, the 737 Max 10 can accommodate up to 230 passengers. However, a series of technical and safety-related issues repeatedly stalled certification for this largest variant of Boeing's bestselling single-aisle family. The manufacturer has stated it anticipates delivering its initial aircraft in 2027.Securing approval for the Max 10 completes Boeing’s four-aircraft 737 Max lineup, marking a crucial step in the manufacturer's effort to stabilize its financial position and restore public confidence following years of quality, safety, and production challenges. Regulatory clearance for the smaller Max 7 variant was granted by the FAA in August.Boeing 737 Max 10 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)Boeing’s operational crisis has been particularly severe since two fatal crashes involving the smaller Max 8 killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019 off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. Concerns over safety and manufacturing protocols were renewed in 2024 when a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines Max 9 in midair.Designed as a direct competitor to Airbus's A321neo model family, which entered commercial service in 2017, the Max 10 faces stiff competition; the largest A321neo variants carry more passengers and fly farther without refueling than Boeing's offering.Still, Boeing designed the single-aisle jet to carry increased passenger loads while consuming less fuel than older models — an advantageous combination for commercial airlines navigating soaring jet fuel costs amid the U.S. war with Iran. Those rising expenses have placed added pressure on carriers to control operating costs.In the wake of the fatal Max 8 crashes, the Federal Aviation Administration overhauled how it oversees Boeing. Over the past 18 months, the agency has gradually eased some restrictions, raising production limits and allowing Boeing in July to resume certifying all of its 737 Max and 787 planes.In a more recent incident, a FlyDubai 737 Max 8 survived a severe dive that subjected the airframe to forces far beyond its original design limits. Officials indicated the copilot attempted to hijack and crash the jet, though the plane ultimately landed safely in Saudi Arabia.Speaking at an investor conference last month, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated that the Max 10 represents roughly 30% of the company's total 737 backlog. Boeing's website currently lists its overall 737 backlog at approximately 4,500 aircraft.The Everett plant offers Boeing added flexibility because the Max 10 is longer than other 737 Max variants. Ortberg noted the aircraft could not fit nose-to-tail on the Renton, Washington line where Boeing builds the 737, but can be accommodated in Everett, enabling a greater mix of longer planes as output increases.Major customers for the Max 10 include United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Ryanair. Alaska Airlines joined that group in January, placing an order for 105 Max 10s alongside options for 35 additional aircraft.