FAA certifies Boeing 737 MAX 10, the jet behind Alaska Airlines' largest order

The Federal Aviation Administration certified the Boeing 737 MAX 10 on Oct. 20, clearing the way for deliveries of the jet that makes up most of Alaska Airlines' order book.

The agency had delayed the decision in September while it assessed whether a newly disclosed software issue posed a safety-of-flight concern. At the time, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency had not concluded whether it was a safety-of-flight issue and would hold off until it was satisfied there was no problem. Boeing had completed its final planned certification flight in July. In all, testing included nearly 1,000 flights, more than 2,000 flight hours and about 1,000 ground-test hours.

The FAA issued an amended type certificate and approved production, which means the jet can now be delivered to domestic and foreign airlines. Before approving it, the agency required flight-control updates, including an enhanced angle of attack (airplane pitch) sensor, to meet the requirements of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and National Transportation Safety Board recommendations. Bedford said the decision "follows a thorough review of the aircraft's design and safety requirements," in an FAA release.

Alaska has firm orders for 168 jets across the MAX family, most of them MAX 10s. They include 105 MAX 10s announced in January, which the airline calls the largest order in company history. Alaska expects its first delivery in the second quarter of 2027.

"Certification of the MAX 10 has been a rigorous, deliberate process, and we respect the work the FAA and Boeing have put into it," Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci said in an airline statement.

The airline said the larger jet can serve high-demand routes more efficiently. At least 25 of the jets will each carry 12 Aurora lie-flat suites for transcontinental flights, the first lie-flat seating on the carrier's 737 fleet, the statement said.