Howard Hardee has worked as a writer, reporter, and editor for 15 years, most recently covering airlines and future flight technologies for FlightGlobal. After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, he wrote about science, forestry, music, and local government for a variety of newspapers and magazines. Now, he oversees editorial content published by Leeham News and Analysis (LNA) and its contributing writers, taking special interest in airliner manufacturing, fleet strategies and real-world operations. His work has been recognized with several journalism and aviation industry awards, including a 2025 Aerospace Media Award for best breaking news coverage. He lives with his family in Northern California.

Leeham News and Analysis Editor

Howard Hardee

Boeing has finally secured a long-sought amended type certificate for the 737 Max 7, a major milestone in the financial turnaround plan for the aerospace and defense giant's commercial division. The approval also and a symbolic victory in what has become a years-long struggle to certificate new aircraft with the FAA.
The U.S. airframer confirmed on August 3 that the FAA had signed the documents granting Boeing an amended type certificate for the Max 7, the smallest variant in the airframer's lineup of latest generation narrowbody jets. Stephanie Pope, head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), addressed the moment's significance in a message to employees.
"This pivotal certification clears the way for us to deliver the airplane and begin meeting the commitments to our customers," Pope said. "The multi-year journey to this milestone has been long and winding. Our team has had to navigate various challenges, an extended pandemic and the transition to new certification processes as lawmakers put in place new requirements to strengthen airplane safety."
Perhaps more notable than certification of the Max 7 itself is the implication that the strong-selling Max 10, the most-stretched 737 variant, could soon clear final certification hurdles. Boeing concluded the certification test-flight campaign for the Max 10 last week, leaving the FAA's extensive paperwork requirements as the bulk of the remaining work.
It has been a long and painful journey from the lows of the Max crisis late last decade, in which a pair of fatal accidents in 2018 and 2019 grounded the global 737 Max fleet and put BCA's safety and quality practices under an intense spotlight for years afterward.
<h2>Multiple Setbacks</h2>
The airframer originally anticipated certifying and delivering the first Max 7s to customers in 2019. But intense FAA scrutiny, coupled with apparent workforce culture dysfunction—arguably culminating in January 2024 with the mid-flight door plug blow-out on a Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines—contributed to delays in securing certification of Max 7 and Max 10.
In 2023, an engine anti-ice system that caused the type's CFM LEAP-1B engines to overheat when running continuously emerged as the primary hurdle for certification of the Max 7 and Max 10. Boeing <a href="https://leehamnews.com/2026/07/16/much-delayed-737-max-7-certification-looms-as-boeings-commercial-programs-advance/#more-50501">told reporters</a> in July that it was on the verge of securing FAA certification of an engine anti-ice solution, after working with CFM to improve heat dissipation through aerodynamic and structural changes.
Boeing is also introducing an Enhanced Angle of Attack System (AoA) on the Max 10, in response concerns from U.S. lawmakers that the sensor system that contributed to both Max crashes was not sufficiently redundant. Once the Max 10 achieves certification, the new AoA system will be equipped on all new Max jets, and retrofits will begin on aircraft already in service.
The Max 7 will be assembled at Boeing’s primary 737 factory at Renton in the Seattle area. The new North Line in Everett does not have the required tooling. Deliveries of the Max 7 will likely begin sometime early next year.
Boeing's critics will no doubt point to the jet's market appeal, which to date has been limited essentially to a single airline customer—Southwest Airlines.
Fleets data provided by aviation analytics firm Cirium show that Southwest currently holds unfilled orders for 254 Max 7s, while US low-cost carrier Allegiant Air has 23 orders for the small narrowbody type.&nbsp;Cirium also lists 15 Max 7 orders placed by an "unannounced commercial customer."
All told, that amounts to fewer than 300 aircraft orders for the Max 7. Notably, Boeing has already built about 30 Max 7s that are currently awaiting delivery.
LNA's independent analysis, informed by discussions with industry insiders, concludes that the Max 7 could break out of that limited market due to some positive performance attributes—including the longest range of any Max jet—though it is unlikely to find a mass market in the manner of the Max 8, and will almost certainly remain a niche narrowbody jet.
Further expert, independent analysis of the 737 Max 7 certification and other top commercial aerospace stories is available to <a href="https://leehamnews.com/">Leeham News and Analysis subscribers</a>.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

FAA Finally Issues Type Certificate For Boeing 737 Max Airliner

Approval of the Boeing narrowbody has come around seven years later than expected

Boeing Commercial Airplanes has had to contend with multiple serious setbacks on the long road to achieving FAA type certification for its 737 Max airliner.

FAA Finally Issues Type Certificate For Boeing 737 Max

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

Deal to close this year

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

Helsinki Evaluates Hybrid-electric Flight Connections

City officials and a local university are working with manufacturer Electra

Zuri Prepares to Fly Hybrid-electric Cargo Drone

Platform offers 100 kilogram payload and 300 nm range

Jetcraft Bullish on Preowned Business Aircraft Market

Broker says new aircraft production rates and tax changes are key drivers

SyberJet SJ30-2 Sets Unofficial Transcontinental Record

Aircraft flew Jacksonville to San Diego nonstop

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN