Boeing Approaches MAX 7 Certification as FAA Backs Higher 737 Production Rates

Boeing moved closer to a long-awaited milestone this week as the Federal Aviation Administration signaled that certification of the 737 MAX 7 could arrive this summer. The agency also indicated openness to further production rate increases for the broader 737 MAX program, a sign that regulators view the planemaker's manufacturing reforms as taking hold.

FAA officials told reporters on May 27, 2026, that they expect the smallest member of the MAX family to receive certification within the coming months. The MAX 7 has faced repeated delays tied to an engine anti-ice system issue that also affected the larger MAX 10. Boeing has been working through a redesign that satisfies regulators without forcing operators to ground aircraft already in service.

Certification of the MAX 7 would clear the way for deliveries to launch customer Southwest Airlines, which has waited years for the aircraft. Southwest, the largest operator of the 737 family worldwide, ordered the variant to replace older 737-700s in its fleet. The carrier has had to adjust its growth plans repeatedly as the timeline slipped.

Production Rate Set to Climb

Alongside the certification update, the FAA confirmed that Boeing has approval to raise 737 production to 47 aircraft per month. The agency capped output at 38 jets per month following the January 2024 Alaska Airlines door plug blowout, which exposed quality control failures on the Renton, Washington assembly line. The cap forced Boeing to slow deliveries and tighten oversight of its production system. Regulators have spent the past year reviewing the company's safety management practices, supplier coordination, and worker training programs. The decision to allow a higher rate reflects what the FAA describes as measurable progress on those fronts.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford indicated that the agency could approve additional rate increases in 2026 if Boeing maintains its current trajectory. That signal matters for airlines that have been waiting on backlogged deliveries and for suppliers who scaled back operations during the slowdown.

Why the Cap Mattered

The production limit imposed after the Alaska Airlines incident was unusual. Federal regulators rarely dictate how many aircraft a manufacturer can build. The move reflected the seriousness with which the FAA viewed the quality lapses that allowed a door plug to leave the factory without the bolts needed to secure it.

Boeing responded by overhauling inspection processes, adding training hours for assembly workers, and pulling back on the practice of moving incomplete fuselages down the production line. Company leadership, including CEO Kelly Ortberg, has made repeated visits to the Renton facility to emphasize the cultural shift the company says it is pursuing.

Investors and customers have watched closely. Each month of constrained output represents lost revenue for Boeing and delayed fleet renewal for airlines trying to retire older, less efficient aircraft.

What Comes Next

The MAX 7 certification timeline still depends on the completion of testing and documentation tied to the engine anti-ice fix. Boeing has been developing a solution that addresses the risk of inlet damage during certain flight conditions. Once the MAX 7 receives approval, attention will turn to the MAX 10, the largest variant in the family, which faces the same engineering challenge.

Southwest Airlines has signaled flexibility on when it can begin taking deliveries, though the carrier has reduced its capacity guidance multiple times because of the delays. Other customers, including United Airlines, have shifted orders toward larger MAX variants while waiting for the MAX 10 to clear certification.

For the broader aviation industry, the FAA's posture suggests a cautious but constructive relationship with Boeing. The agency continues to maintain on-site inspectors at the Renton plant and at supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which Boeing is in the process of reacquiring.

If Boeing meets the FAA's expectations through the remainder of 2025, the company could exit the year with a certified MAX 7, higher production rates, and clearer visibility into the certification path for the MAX 10. Each step would mark progress toward stabilizing a program that has defined much of the company's recent struggles.