Summary
After years of delays, redesigns and intensive regulatory scrutiny, the Boeing 737 MAX 7 has finally received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The approval marks a major milestone for Boeing, completing the certification of the smallest member of the 737 MAX family and paving the way for the first customer deliveries.
But now the big question becomes: which airlines will actually be flying the MAX 7, and when can aviation enthusiasts expect to see it in service?
Southwest Airlines Will Be First
Unsurprisingly, Southwest Airlines is expected to become the launch customer.
The Dallas-based airline has been the MAX 7’s biggest supporter since the programme was launched and has patiently waited through multiple certification delays. Southwest has built its entire fleet around the Boeing 737, making the MAX 7 a natural replacement for its ageing 737-700s.
The airline holds well over 200 outstanding MAX 7 orders, representing the vast majority of Boeing’s backlog for the type. First deliveries are expected to begin once Boeing completes its delivery preparations, with commercial services likely to follow in 2027.
For spotters in the United States, that means airports across Southwest’s huge domestic network could soon become the best places to catch the newest 737 variant.
Who Else Has Ordered The MAX 7?
Although Southwest dominates the order book, it isn’t the only customer.
Other airlines and operators with MAX 7 orders include:
- Business Jet/VIP customers, who will receive Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) versions
- Several leasing companies with aircraft available for future placement.
WestJet was originally planned to be a MAX 7 operator, but switched its order to the MAX 8 variant.
Because many airlines opted to switch to the larger MAX 8 or MAX 10 while waiting for certification, the MAX 7’s customer list is considerably smaller than Boeing originally envisaged.
Why Choose The MAX 7?
At first glance, the MAX 7 might appear overshadowed by its larger siblings, but it fills an important niche.
Designed to seat around 135 to 160 passengers, it is the smallest and longest-range member of the MAX family. Boeing says it can fly around 1,000 nautical miles farther than the 737-700 while offering significantly lower fuel burn per seat.
That makes it particularly attractive for airlines wanting:
- Thin long-range routes
- High-frequency domestic services
- Airports with performance limitations
- A modern replacement for older Boeing 737-700 fleets
For Southwest, which operates hundreds of 737-700s, the aircraft is almost tailor-made.
A Long Road To Certification
The MAX 7 first flew back in 2018 and was originally expected to enter service the following year.
Instead, certification became caught up in the aftermath of the two fatal MAX accidents, followed by enhanced FAA oversight of Boeing’s design and manufacturing processes. Additional work on the aircraft’s engine anti-ice system added further delays.
In total, certification arrived almost seven years later than originally planned, making it one of Boeing’s longest development programmes in recent memory.
What Does It Mean For Boeing?
For Boeing, FAA certification represents much more than another aircraft entering service.
It allows the company to begin delivering aircraft that have been sitting in storage awaiting approval, generating much-needed revenue while giving customers access to the final member of the MAX family. Boeing has already begun preparations for first deliveries.
Attention now turns to the 737 MAX 10, the largest variant in the family, which recently completed its own certification flight testing and is widely expected to receive FAA approval later this year. If that happens, Boeing will finally have its complete next-generation 737 family available for airlines nearly a decade after the programme first entered service.
