The certification by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) marks a significant milestone for Boeing, which has faced years of challenges involving safety concerns, manufacturing issues and increased regulatory scrutiny following two fatal crashes involving the 737 Max 8 model.
The FAA announced on Monday that the approval followed extensive technical evaluations and modifications aimed at ensuring the aircraft met the required safety standards.
The agency said the certification “reflects years of sustained work to resolve complex technical issues and complete a thorough review of the airplane’s design and supporting safety analyses.”
Following the announcement, Boeing shares gained 8 per cent on Monday as investors welcomed the progress on one of the company’s delayed aircraft programmes.
Delays linked to safety reviews
The 737 Max 7 was initially expected to enter service years ago, with airlines such as Southwest Airlines among carriers preparing to introduce the aircraft before the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, its approval process was prolonged after the fatal crashes involving Boeing’s 737 Max 8 aircraft in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people and led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft.
The accidents triggered intense regulatory examinations of Boeing’s safety practices, while additional concerns involving manufacturing quality and aircraft systems further delayed progress on new Max models.
The redesign of the aircraft’s engine anti-icing system became one of the major technical issues reviewed by regulators before certification was granted.
Southwest prepares for introduction
Although certification allows airlines to begin preparing the aircraft for passenger operations, carriers typically require additional time to incorporate newly approved planes into their schedules.
Southwest Airlines, which has the largest number of already-built 737 Max 7 aircraft awaiting delivery, will need to modify the planes with its new extra-legroom seating configuration before putting them into service.
The airline is not expected to begin commercial flights with the aircraft until next year.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Pope described the certification as an important achievement for the company’s aircraft development team.
“This important certification validates the rigor of our airplane’s design and recognizes the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team,” Pope said in a statement.
More aircraft approvals pending
The FAA said the certification process required Boeing to implement additional improvements beyond the engine anti-ice system redesign.
The changes included updates to the aircraft’s flight control software and crew alerting system.
Boeing is still awaiting FAA certification for two other delayed aircraft programmes — the 737 Max 10, the largest version of the Max family, and the 777X, the company’s largest passenger aircraft.
The Max 10 was originally expected by some airlines to enter service in 2020, but delays have pushed back those plans.
According to Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu, Boeing has about 40 completed 737 Max 7 and Max 10 aircraft already in inventory, and the certification could help the company generate much-needed revenue.
Aircraft manufacturers typically receive the majority of payment for planes when they are delivered to customers, making timely certification crucial to Boeing’s financial recovery.
Boeing continues recovery efforts
The certification comes as Boeing continues efforts to rebuild confidence among regulators, airlines and passengers following years of operational setbacks.
The company has been working to increase production of its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, both of which are critical to its recovery because customers pay most of the aircraft purchase price upon delivery.
In July, Boeing opened a fourth production line in Everett, Washington, dedicated to manufacturing 737 Max aircraft as part of efforts to increase output.
The FAA had previously taken steps to increase oversight of Boeing after the 737 Max 8 crashes, including removing the company’s authority to issue certain airworthiness certificates for its aircraft.
The regulator later restored Boeing’s ability to issue airworthiness certificates for the 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner models after determining that the company had made progress in addressing safety and compliance concerns.
The certification of the 737 Max 7 represents a major step forward for Boeing as it seeks to stabilise production, strengthen its relationship with regulators and restore confidence in its aircraft programmes.