FAA Certifies Boeing 737 Max 10, the Largest Max Model, With 1,555 Orders Waiting
The U.S. regulator approved the jet on Oct. 20, 2026, more than five years after its first flight. Boeing says deliveries begin in the coming months, but some reports place the first deliveries in 2027.
A plane approved five years late, and still not on the runway
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, the FAA certified the Boeing 737 Max 10. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced it at Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington[3][4]. The jet first flew on June 18, 2021, so approval took more than five years[3].
The Max 10 is the biggest 737 Max. It seats up to 230 passengers[4]. Boeing says 1,555 are on order from more than 30 customers. That is more than 30% of all its unfilled Max orders[1][4].
Yet certification doesn't put a single plane in an airline's hands. Boeing says deliveries start "in the coming months"[1]. Some aviation reporting expects them in 2027, with passenger service around spring[3].
Why a certificate isn't cash
The FAA issued two documents. One is an amended type certificate, which confirms the design meets safety rules. The other is an updated Production Limitation Record, which lets Boeing build the plane[4].
Boeing gets most of a jet's price only when it delivers the jet. So 1,555 waiting orders are money the company can't collect yet[1][17]. Traders told Stocktwits that deliveries, not the certificate, will move the stock[17].
Airlines have their own stake. Big buyers include United, Delta, American, Alaska and Ryanair[4]. A bigger plane spreads fuel and crew costs over more passengers[3][4]. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary had said he expected approval in October so Ryanair could take 16 jets in early 2027[11]. Simple Flying reports 15 aircraft in spring 2027, so the exact number is unsettled[3].
Speed versus caution
The Trump administration says U.S. certification is too slow. Duffy said it takes Boeing "less than half the time" to certify a plane in Europe. He added that America must move faster to compete with China[2].
Safety advocates start from a different place. Two Max crashes, in 2018 and 2019, killed 346 people[6]. They argue the crashes came from Boeing withholding information and the FAA deferring to the company. So they want caution to outrank speed[10].
The FAA has its own case. Boeing had to add an upgraded angle-of-attack sensor system. That sensor tells a plane how steeply its wings meet the oncoming air. In both crashes a bad reading set off software that pushed the nose down[6]. The new system is meant to catch bad readings.
Boeing also says the Max 10 is the first jet certified under the full 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, the reform law passed after the crashes[1][4]. It cites nearly 1,000 test flights. Other sources count 976 flights and more than 2,060 flight hours[1][3]. Boeing argues the long delay shows thoroughness, not weakness[1].
The glitch that arrived weeks before approval
In September, the Wall Street Journal reported a software glitch that could leave vertical-navigation guidance unavailable during a go-around, when a pilot aborts a landing[8][9]. AFP reported that Boeing shares fell sharply, and that the bug threatened to delay certification[18].
On Oct. 2, the FAA's Corrective Action Review Board ruled on it. That internal panel decides whether a known defect needs a mandatory fix. It found the glitch was not a flight-safety issue. Its reasoning: pilots keep full control, and the cockpit warnings are "clear and unambiguous"[7]. It did not make a fix a condition of certification. Boeing is developing a permanent correction[7].
Critics read the same facts differently. Boeing says it learned of the problem in November 2024. It did not start a formal safety review until September 2026, after hearing from airlines[8]. Some large airline customers have said they won't accept jets with the unfixed software[8].
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has pressed Boeing on exactly this pattern. She earlier got Boeing to commit to fixing a Max 10 safety defect before seeking certification. She has also criticized what she calls its "pattern" of not telling pilots about cockpit features[10].
What the coverage chose to show
Outlets split by which part of the story they led with. CNBC called the approval a "major win" for Boeing and put Duffy's speed argument in its headline[2]. Leeham News ran a plain headline. It had earlier tied the timing to Boeing's earnings report[12][16].
The Journal's news side broke the glitch story, and it raised the question of how Boeing discloses problems[8]. CBS used the word "investigates" and stressed the aborted-landing scenario[9]. The FAA's all-clear came in separate coverage[7].
Outside the U.S., Pakistan's ARY News and Turkey's pro-government Daily Sabah mostly ran the plain wire version[13][14]. Russia's state agency TASS picked up the Journal's glitch report instead[15]. Searches found no certification-day pieces from major opinion-driven outlets on either side.
What happens next
The FAA now owns the record of a high-volume airliner. Any future problem will test its claim that the post-crash reforms work[6][7]. The Max 7 was cleared on Aug. 3, 2026, so all four Max models are now approved[3].
Three things remain open. One is when the first Max 10 actually reaches an airline. Another is how soon Boeing delivers the permanent navigation fix, along with a pilot procedure. The last is whether the push for faster certification and the push for stricter oversight can both hold[2][7][10].
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Boeing's 737 Max 10 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026[1][2]. It is the largest version of Boeing's best-selling single-aisle jet. It seats up to 230 passengers[4]. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the approval at Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington[3][4]. The plane first flew on June 18, 2021, so approval took more than five years[3].
Boeing says it has 1,555 orders for the Max 10 from more than 30 customers. That is more than 30% of all its unfilled Max orders, so the plane matters a lot to Boeing's finances[1][4]. Boeing says deliveries will begin "in the coming months"[1]. Some aviation reporting expects deliveries to start in 2027, with passenger service around spring 2027[3]. Major buyers include United, Delta, American, Alaska and Ryanair[4].
The main dispute is over speed versus caution. The Trump administration says U.S. certification is too slow. Duffy said Europe certifies aircraft in "less than half the time" and that China is trying to take over aviation[2]. Safety advocates point to two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people[6]. Both crashes involved a faulty angle-of-attack sensor, which tells the plane how steeply its wings meet the oncoming air. The Max 10 adds an upgraded sensor system meant to catch bad readings[2][6]. Weeks before approval, a separate software glitch surfaced that can leave vertical-navigation guidance unavailable during a go-around. The FAA's Corrective Action Review Board, an internal panel that decides whether a known defect needs a mandatory fix, ruled it was not a flight-safety issue and did not make a fix a condition of certification[7]. Critics note that Boeing says it learned of the problem in November 2024, and some large airline customers have said they will not accept jets with the unfixed software[8].
The Event
On October 20, 2026, the FAA certified the Boeing 737-10, also called the 737 Max 10. It issued an amended type certificate, which confirms the design meets safety rules. It also issued an updated production record that lets Boeing build the plane[4]. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the approval at Boeing's Everett, Washington, assembly line[4]. Boeing said deliveries will begin in the coming months[1].
Undisputed Facts
- The FAA certified the 737 Max 10 on October 20, 2026[1][2].
- Boeing reports 1,555 Max 10 orders from more than 30 customers, more than 30% of its unfilled 737 Max orders[1][4].
- The Max 10 seats up to 230 passengers, the most of any 737 Max model[4].
- The plane first flew on June 18, 2021. Certification testing included 976 flights and more than 2,060 flight hours[3].
- Boeing says the Max 10 is the first commercial jet certified under the full requirements of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act[1][4].
- The FAA issued an amended type certificate (confirming the design meets safety rules) and an updated Production Limitation Record (authorizing Boeing to build the plane)[4].
- Before approving the jet, the FAA required an upgraded angle-of-attack sensor system. The change followed two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people[6].
- On October 2, 2026, the FAA's Corrective Action Review Board ruled that a navigation-software glitch found in September was not a flight-safety issue and did not require a fix before certification. Boeing is developing a permanent correction[7].
- The FAA cleared the smaller 737 Max 7 for airline service on August 3, 2026, so all four Max models are now approved[3].
The Pressure
Strip away the moralizing and blame. What structural realities persist regardless of which narrative wins?
- Backlog-to-cash
- Boeing gets most of a jet's price only on delivery. So 1,555 undelivered Max 10s are revenue it cannot book until production catches up[1][17].
- Competition with Airbus and China
- Airbus's A321neo has sold well in the large single-aisle segment while the Max 10 waited. The administration frames faster certification as a way to keep U.S. aerospace competitive[2].
- Regulator credibility
- After the 2018–2019 crashes, the 2020 reform law tightened certification. Each new approval is a public test of whether the FAA is independent of Boeing[4][6].
Material realityThe jet is now legally certified, and its production is authorized[4]. But approval does not deliver planes. Airlines are planning for deliveries around early to spring 2027[3][11]. A known navigation-software issue remains across the Max family. Boeing is writing a fix and a pilot procedure, and the FAA did not require the fix before certifying the Max 10[7][8]. The upgraded angle-of-attack system targets the failure behind both crashes: a bad sensor reading that set off software pushing the nose down[6].
Narrative as a weaponThe administration is pushing hardest to shape this story as proof that regulation is too slow. Duffy's Europe-versus-China comparison was the day's main quote[2]. Boeing wants readers to see thoroughness and a turnaround[1]. Safety-minded lawmakers and investigative reporting want the focus on Boeing's disclosure record and on keeping the 2020 reforms in force[8][10]. Business outlets mostly treat the approval as a stock and delivery story[2][17]. Searches found no certification coverage from major opinion-driven outlets on either side. The fight over meaning runs mainly through officials' quotes and the glitch story.
How Each Side Sees It
Each major actor’s view — how it frames things, its underlying incentive, and how it’s materially affected. Tap a side to read it.
Frames it asThey argue the approval followed a strict process. Boeing had to add safety upgrades required by the 2020 reform law, including the upgraded angle-of-attack system[2][6]. On the glitch, the FAA's review board said pilots keep full control and the cockpit warnings are "clear and unambiguous"[7]. Duffy argues that speed is also a national-interest issue. In his words: "It takes Boeing, to certify an aircraft in Europe, about half the time, less than half the time that it does in the U.S." He added that America must certify faster to compete with China[2].
WhyShow that the FAA has fixed the lax oversight that came to light after the crashes. At the same time, back a major U.S. exporter and employer against Airbus and China's rising aircraft industry[2].
Impact on themThe FAA now owns the safety record of a high-volume airliner. Any future problem with the Max 10 will test its claim that its post-crash reforms work[6][7].
Frames it asBoeing presents the approval as proof that its long program met the strictest standard yet. It cites nearly 1,000 test flights, more than 2,000 flight hours, 1,000 hours of ground tests, and full compliance with the 2020 law[1][4]. It argues that the long delay reflects thoroughness, not weakness[1].
WhyTurn a large backlog into cash. Boeing only receives most of a plane's price when it delivers the plane, so 1,555 waiting orders are money it cannot collect yet[1][17].
Impact on themMarket traders said deliveries, not the certificate itself, will move the stock[17]. Boeing shares fell sharply in September after the Wall Street Journal reported the glitch[18].
Frames it asAirlines want the larger jet for busy routes. More seats on each flight spread the fuel and crew costs over more passengers[3][4]. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said he expected approval in October so that Ryanair could take 16 jets in early 2027[11].
WhyAdd capacity they have planned around for years. Several airlines have built fleet and network plans on Max 10s that arrived years late[3][11].
Impact on themDelays forced carriers to change fleet plans. Approval lets deliveries be scheduled, but airlines still wait for Boeing to produce the jets[3][11].
Frames it asThey argue that the Max crashes came from Boeing hiding information and the FAA deferring to the company, so caution should outrank speed. Duckworth earlier got Boeing to commit to fixing a Max 10 safety defect before seeking certification[10]. She has also criticized what she calls Boeing's "pattern" of not telling pilots about cockpit features[10]. On the navigation glitch: Boeing said it learned of it in November 2024 but did not start a formal safety review until September 2026, after hearing from airlines[8].
WhyMake sure the reforms passed after the crashes are actually enforced. Resist calls from the administration to speed up certification[2][10].
Impact on themTheir influence shows in the 2020 law that governed this approval[4]. The administration's push for faster approvals tests how long that influence lasts[2].
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The Bias Ledger average rating 3
The same story, as framed by outlets across the spectrum, ordered least to most biased. The bias score (1 = straight, 10 = heavily spun) is an AI assessment of that framing — click an outlet to see its track record. The tell is the word choice or omission that reveals the angle.
| Outlet | Vantage | Bias | How they frame it | The tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leeham News | U.S. aviation trade, analyst-run | 2 | Boeing 737 Max 10 Clears Certification with FAA | A plain headline. Its day-before coverage tied the approval's timing to Boeing's earnings report. |
| ARY News | Pakistani private | 2 | FAA certifies Boeing's 737 MAX 10, clearing way for deliveries | Wire-style business framing with no added angle. |
| Daily Sabah | Turkish, pro-government | 2 | Boeing 737 Max 10 gets FAA approval, clearing way for deliveries | Plain wire-based framing. Turkish Airlines' interest in Boeing jets is part of the background. |
| CNBC | U.S. center (business) | 3 | Boeing wins FAA approval for 737 Max 10 after years of delays as Duffy says certification process should be faster | Calls the approval a "major win" for Boeing and puts Duffy's speed-up argument in the headline. The safety history is background, not the frame. |
| The Wall Street Journal | U.S. center-right (news side) | 3 | Boeing finds 737 MAX software glitch that may affect automated navigation | An accountability scoop about a flaw that could delay the plane. Reporting that Boeing knew of it in November 2024 points readers to how Boeing discloses problems. |
| CBS News | U.S. center-left | 4 | FAA investigates software glitch in some Boeing 737 Max jets that could cause issues during aborted landings | "Investigates" plus the aborted-landing scenario stresses risk. The FAA's later all-clear came in separate coverage. |
| TASS | Russian state | 5 | Boeing identifies software glitch in 737 MAX aircraft — WSJ | Chose to carry the story about a flaw in a U.S. flagship product. That fits a habit of highlighting Western industrial problems, even though the content is attributed to the WSJ. |
References
- U.S. FAA certifies Boeing 737-10, largest member of 737 MAX family — Boeing (press release) · Corporate primary source; the company's own claims
- Boeing wins FAA approval for 737 Max 10 after years of delays as Duffy says certification process should be faster — CNBC · U.S. business news, owned by Versant (spun off from Comcast); market-focused
- Breaking: Boeing 737 MAX 10 Wins FAA Type Certification — Simple Flying · Aviation enthusiast site, ad-funded
- Boeing 737 MAX 10 wins FAA certification after delays — AeroTime · Lithuania-based aviation trade publication
- FAA Certifies Boeing 737 MAX 10 — AVweb · U.S. aviation trade publication
- Boeing 737 Max 10 lands long-awaited FAA certification — The Spokesman-Review · U.S. regional newspaper (Spokane), family-owned
- FAA says Boeing 737 Max software glitch not a flight-safety issue — CNBC · U.S. business news, owned by Versant
- Boeing finds 737 MAX software glitch that may affect automated navigation - WSJ — The Wall Street Journal · U.S. center-right editorial page; straight-news newsroom; owned by News Corp
- FAA investigates software glitch in some Boeing 737 Max jets that could cause issues during aborted landings — CBS News · U.S. broadcast network, owned by Paramount Skydance
- Duckworth Secures Commitment from Boeing to Fix Safety Defect on the 737 MAX 10 Before Seeking Certification — Office of Sen. Tammy Duckworth · Official release from a Democratic senator; advocacy
- Ryanair optimistic Boeing MAX 10 certification will be done in October — Reuters · International wire service, commercially owned (Thomson Reuters)
- Boeing Hoping to Secure 737 Max 10 Certification Ahead of Earnings — Leeham News · Aviation consultancy-run analysis site
- FAA certifies Boeing's 737 MAX 10, clearing way for deliveries — ARY News · Pakistani private broadcaster
- Boeing 737 Max 10 gets FAA approval, clearing way for deliveries — Daily Sabah · Turkish, aligned with the ruling AKP government
- Boeing identifies software glitch in 737 MAX aircraft — WSJ — TASS · Russian state news agency
- Boeing 737 Max 10 Clears Certification with FAA — Leeham News · Aviation consultancy-run analysis site
- FAA Clears Boeing's MAX 10 After Long Wait, But BA Traders Say Deliveries Will Drive The Stock — Stocktwits · Retail-investor social platform news desk
- Certification of Boeing 737 MAX delayed by software bug — Agence France-Presse · French international wire service, publicly supported