Boeing gets US certification for 737 MAX 7, delays European approval

Boeing has obtained an amended type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration for its 737 MAX 7, according to the report. The certificate was issued on August 3, 2026, clearing a path for deliveries to start in early 2027.

Boeing has not pursued parallel certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency at this stage. That decision appears tied to the aircraft's customer base rather than any dispute with European regulators.

Southwest Airlines is named as the dominant buyer of the type, holding roughly 90% of existing orders. That concentration reduces the immediate need for European validation, since few if any customers outside the US market are currently positioned to take early deliveries.

The MAX 7 is the smallest variant in Boeing's MAX family. Its certification process has drawn scrutiny in past years amid broader questions about the MAX program following earlier accidents involving other variants, and this latest step marks a milestone in a timeline that has taken longer than Boeing initially projected.

No details were given on when or whether Boeing intends to seek EASA approval later, or whether that decision depends on future orders from European or European-aligned carriers.