The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has signaled that the 737 MAX 7 could be certified this summer and that the larger 737 MAX 10 may gain approval by the end of the year, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at an aviation forum in Washington. Bedford relayed those timing expectations while speaking with Reuters.
In addition to certification schedules, Bedford indicated the FAA expects Boeing to increase 737 MAX production within the next 90 days. The agency has backed Boeing's decision to raise monthly production from 42 aircraft to 47, and officials said they are comfortable with that step. Bedford also noted expectations for further rate increases in the coming months.
Regulatory approvals for production rates are not new this cycle. In October the FAA authorized Boeing to boost its 737 MAX output to 42 planes per month, removing a prior cap of 38 planes that had been in place since January 2024. Boeing has said its objective is to reach a production pace of 52 jets per month early next year, a target tied to the opening of a fourth 737 production line in Everett, Washington.
The FAA comments reported by Bedford cover both certification sequencing and production pacing. Certification timelines for the MAX 7 and MAX 10, together with stepped increases in monthly output, form the near-term operational roadmap cited by the agency. The production target of 52 jets per month is conditional on the new Everett line coming online as Boeing has outlined.
Below are the key developments and considerations raised by the FAA remarks:
- Certification timing: MAX 7 anticipated this summer; MAX 10 anticipated by year-end, per FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
- Production increases: FAA has endorsed raising monthly 737 MAX production from 42 to 47 aircraft, with further increases expected in coming months.
- Longer-term target: Boeing aims for 52 jets per month early next year after opening a fourth production line in Everett, Washington.
The FAA's stated comfort with an initial production rise and its certification timetable are regulatory signals that affect aircraft supply, manufacturing operations and airline fleet planning. However, the agency's expectations and Boeing's production goals represent planned paths rather than guarantees, and they remain subject to regulatory review and operational execution.