Boeing (NYSE:BA) could soon receive Federal Aviation Administration approval for its 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 aircraft, with a senior FAA official indicating certification of both variants is approaching following an extensive regulatory review.
Speaking to Reuters at the Farnborough International Airshow, Deputy FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said certification of the 737 MAX 7 is “literally around the corner,” with approval for the larger MAX 10 expected shortly afterward.
The FAA is also preparing to certify Boeing’s 777X after the two MAX variants receive approval. Rocheleau said the 777X could be certified later this year or in early 2027, depending on when Boeing submits the remaining information required by regulators.
Boeing prioritises financial recovery before launching a new aircraft
Separately, Boeing Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg said the company is unlikely to launch a new commercial aircraft until it has restored its financial strength, a process he expects will take “a couple more years.”
Speaking with CNBC’s Phil LeBeau at the Farnborough International Airshow, Ortberg outlined three key conditions that must be met before Boeing commits to a new aircraft programme.
“First of all, we have to be ready, and part of that is getting our financial house in order, and we’re working on that,” Ortberg said. “It’s going to take a couple more years to get where we want to be.”
Ortberg said airline customers have encouraged Boeing to concentrate on improving production quality, delivery reliability and output across its existing aircraft portfolio instead of accelerating development of a successor to the 737 MAX. His comments suggest a new narrowbody aircraft is unlikely to be launched until later in the decade.
The CEO, who returned from retirement to lead Boeing following manufacturing challenges and the January 2024 mid-flight fuselage door plug blowout, added that the company also needs confidence that the necessary technology is mature and that long-term market demand justifies a new aircraft programme.
Boeing and Airbus remain focused on current production
Boeing and Airbus continue to dominate the global commercial aircraft market, but both manufacturers are working through supply chain constraints that have limited production since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury told CNBC at Farnborough that the European manufacturer is targeting a next-generation single-aisle aircraft around 2030, with commercial service expected during the second half of that decade.
“We’re the leader in the single-aisle segment, and we want to retain that position,” Faury said at Farnborough.
Faury added that Airbus remains focused on increasing production of its existing aircraft families as demand from airlines continues to exceed supply.
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