Boeing is only weeks away from gaining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for its 737 MAX 7 aircraft, according to a new Wall Street Journal report.
Boeing’s smallest variant of the MAX family aircraft was officially launched in May 2013, with Southwest Airlines confirmed as the launch customer.
The Dallas-based carrier became the first airline to order the 737 MAX 7, with delivery of the first aircraft initially scheduled for 2019.
Seven years later, the US planemaker is said to be finally on the cusp of receiving approval for an aircraft that promised so much, but which has yet to deliver.
According to the Wall Street Journal, which has spoken to people familiar with the matter, FAA certification could arrive before the end of July 2026.
Powered exclusively by CFM International LEAP-1B engines, the mini-MAX is designed to fly up to 172 single-class passengers with a top range of around 3,800 nautical miles.
Its competitor aircraft at Airbus are the A220-300, which carriers up to 160 single-class passengers, and the A320neo, with 194 single-class seats.
With Airbus’ rumored future A220-500 (or Stretch) expected to carry up to 180 single-class passengers, the market is set to be squeezed even further.
Boeing’s largest MAX aircraft, the 737-10, is also in the final stages of FAA certification, with the Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau indicating it was a case of “dotting ‘i’s and crossing ‘t’s”.