The Federal Aviation Administration was signed off on Boeing The 737 Max 10 after years of delays, a major win for the manufacturer and the best-selling Boeing jet family has received government approval.
The green light came weeks after federal officials investigated a navigation system error on the plane but deemed it not a safety-of-flight issue.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNBC’s Phil LeBeau that safety is paramount, but he also said the U.S. needs to improve its certification process.
“It takes Boeing, to certify an airplane in Europe, about half the time, less than half the time in the U.S. You have China now playing to take over in aviation,” Duffy said. “We need to certify the aircraft faster if we are going to compete as Americans.”
The 737 Max 10, the largest model in the family that can seat up to 230 people, was scheduled to start flying in 2020, but increased scrutiny after two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 and other safety issues delayed its certification. Engineering changes are also required, including anti-icing systems for aircraft engines.
Max 10 customers included Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Boeing says the Max 10 makes up about 30% of the Max backlog.
Airlines can finally start flying passengers as soon as the plane is certified, but it can take several months for the operator to be able to go to schedule.
“Completing the certification program clears the way for Boeing to deliver aircraft that will set new standards in commercial aviation,” Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing’s commercial aircraft unit, said in a news release.
United CEO Scott Kirby told CNBC in August that the airline has waited so long for the Max 10 that the lie-flat seats are expected for planes that no longer make sense and sit in the warehouse. Alaska Airlines last month said it plans to put lie-flat seats on some of its 737 Max 10s in a push to offer more premiums.
The FAA approved the smallest model of the 737 Max family, the Max 7, in early August.
Boeing has been ramping up production of 737 Maxes and 787 Dreamliners, which are key to the recovery as airlines and other customers pay the price of the planes when they are delivered. The manufacturer opened a fourth production line in Everett, Washington, in July for the 737 Max aircraft.