The Federal Aviation Administration has granted certification to Boeing's smallest passenger jet, marking a significant milestone for the planemaker after more than four years of delays.
The 737 MAX 7 is the shortest variant of Boeing's workhorse narrow-body jet, capable of carrying between 135 to 160 passengers in a normal commercial configuration, with the ability to seat up to 172 people in a high-density setting.
However, the MAX 7 boasts the longest range of the 737 MAX family, flying up to 4,300 miles, thanks to its efficient engines and relatively low per-seat operating cost.
Southwest Airlines, based in Dallas, is set to be the launch customer for the MAX 7, and Boeing has stated that the planemaker and airline are preparing for delivery of the first airplane.
A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said that the airline plans to begin flying passengers on the MAX 7 three to six months after delivery of the first jet, and that its current schedule does not have any routes or frequencies using the plane, although this can be amended.
Southwest Airlines expressed its satisfaction with the FAA's certification of the Boeing 737-7 aircraft, stating its excitement for the plane's entry into service in the coming months.
The certification of the MAX 7 follows a series of delays caused by complex technical issues and a review of the airplane's design and safety testing, which led to the grounding of the MAX 8 and MAX 9 after two crashes prior to the pandemic.
The FAA required the MAX 7 to incorporate key improvements, including updates to the flight-control software, flightcrew alerting system, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system, before granting approval.
Certification of the MAX 10 is widely expected to follow in the coming weeks or months, since the jet largely features the same adjustments made to the MAX 7, and Boeing has already built around 30 MAX 7s and nine MAX 10s.
