FAA approves Boeing 737 Max 10 for passenger service after delays

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved Boeing's 737 Max 10 airliner for passenger service, NPR reported. This model is Boeing's largest 737 Max jet and has faced nearly a decade of delays before reaching this milestone.

According to PBS NewsHour, the 737 Max 10 is designed to carry more passengers while using less fuel, which is appealing to airlines amid high jet fuel costs. The FAA's approval allows Boeing to sell the aircraft to both domestic and international carriers.

The certification follows extensive safety reviews and thousands of hours of test flights, the FAA said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the approval a significant achievement for American manufacturing and the nation's aviation industry.

Boeing's president and CEO of Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, stated that the certification clears the way to deliver an airplane that will set a new standard in commercial aviation. The Max 10 typically seats 185 to 210 passengers, more than previous Max models.

The aircraft was first introduced in 2017 to compete with Airbus in the narrow-body market. Technical and regulatory challenges delayed its certification, with initial deliveries expected in 2023 according to Boeing's 2020 report.

With this approval, Boeing aims to regain market share and improve its financial position following earlier safety and production issues with the 737 Max family.