FAA certifies Boeing's 737 MAX 7 after decade of delays

The FAA issued an amended type certificate for the Boeing 737 MAX 7 on August 3, 2026, clearing the smallest MAX variant for service after nearly a decade of review that followed the fatal MAX 8 crashes. Certification required updated flight-control software, an improved crew-alerting system, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system; roughly 30 completed jets, mostly built for Southwest Airlines, now enter retrofit, with entry into passenger service not expected until early 2027.