Boeing’s Longest-Delayed Jet Finally Has Its Green Light

The Federal Aviation Administration certified Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 on October 20, 2026, clearing the largest member of the MAX family for deliveries. It is the final MAX variant to receive approval, following the MAX 7 in August. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the decision a major win for American manufacturing. For passengers, it marks the end of a long wait for an aircraft that was originally expected to enter service around 2020 or 2021.

The delay had several causes. Two fatal MAX crashes led to a sweeping overhaul of how the FAA certifies new aircraft, and a separate problem with the engine anti-ice system on MAX engines, identified in 2023, held up both the MAX 7 and the MAX 10. Those issues have now been resolved to the regulator’s satisfaction, though how soon airlines can actually fly the jet depends on Boeing’s delivery schedule, which the company says will begin in the coming months.

The numbers show why airlines care. The largest MAX 10 can carry up to 230 passengers, compared with 195 on the MAX 9 and 160 on the MAX 7. IBA, an aviation analytics firm, counts more than 1,550 MAX 10 orders, about 31 percent of Boeing’s outstanding 737 backlog. WestJet is the launch customer, and United, Delta, American, Alaska and Ryanair are among the other airlines committed to the jet.

For travelers, the change will arrive slowly. Deliveries are expected to start in 2027 according to Airline Geeks, and airlines typically phase new aircraft onto busy domestic and short-haul routes first. If you fly United or Delta regularly, you may eventually find yourself on a longer, denser MAX 10 with more seats per flight, which airlines hope will lower costs, even if it does not necessarily make the cabin roomier.

Sources: Airline Geeks, Khaleej Times