FAA certifies Boeing 737 MAX 7 after years of delays

More than eight years after Boeing organized the maiden flight of the 737 MAX 7, US authorities announced Monday that they certified the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced certification of the smallest version of the single-aisle MAX plane, a process that had been significantly prolonged by new requirements under federal legislation following two fatal MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. The action, which Boeing and regulators had telegraphed in recent weeks, sent Boeing shares sharply higher. The MAX 7 is Boeing's first new aircraft to be cleared since the crashes and other problems sent the company into a multi-year slump. "This important certification validates the rigor of our airplane's design and recognizes the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team," said Stephanie Pope, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Our team stayed focused on completing all requirements and delivering a safe and more capable airplane to our customers." FAA approval follows "almost a decade of extensive review" following "years of sustained work to resolve complex technical issues," the agency said. Boeing had originally intended to commence deliveries ...