FAA expected to certify Boeing 737 MAX 10 on Tuesday

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected to announce FAA type certification of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Boeing's plant in Everett, Washington. The FAA Type Certification Board completed its meeting on Friday, October 16. Nearly 1,500 MAX 10 jets are on order, about 30 percent of Boeing's 737 backlog. Major firm orders include United Airlines with roughly 167, Ryanair with 150 plus 150 options, and Alaska Airlines with 105 plus rights on 35 more. The aircraft seats up to 230 passengers in a high-density layout or 188 to 204 in two-class configuration. The 737 MAX 7 was certified in August. Boeing disclosed a navigation software glitch in FMC versions U14 and U14.1 in September after WestJet identified the issue on a test flight. On October 2, a Corrective Action Review Board determined no fix was required before certification, and the FAA issued non-mandatory SAIB 2026-17, saying the glitch is not a safety concern. A permanent fix is not expected until 2028. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary told Reuters: "Boeing are hoping to have the MAX 10, the new aircraft, certified before the end of October. We're now in the last 10 days of October. We're pretty optimistic that that date will be hit." Contested: none found in record.