- Boeing’s upcoming 737 MAX 10 is the MAX family’s largest variant at about 144 feet long.
- The high-density plane will compete with the Airbus A321neo, but it has faced development problems.
- Insider toured the 737 MAX 10 testbed at the Paris Airshow to catch up on the certification process.
Boeing’s upcoming 737 MAX 10 is the largest of the single-aisle jet family and will compete with Airbus’ A321neo.
According to the manufacturer, the next-generation jet offers “the lowest cost per seat of any single-aisle airplane,” making it attractive for airlines looking for high-density narrowbodies that can replace costly widebodies on long-haul routes — especially between low-demand city pairs.
Carriers like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have placed orders for the stretched jet, which can accommodate up to 230 people.
However, the MAX 10 has had a tough road to certification.
Boeing originally thought the plane would be certified by the end of 2022 after the MAX 8 and 9 were officially ungrounded in November 2020. However, the manufacturer has since pushed the timeline back to early 2024.
The delayed timeline is a result of components like the flight deck, the landing gear, and the angle of attack sensors requiring extra engineering to mitigate safety risks and meet federal requirements. Stricter documentation laws created after the MAX crashes have also delayed the process.
“We have done just about everything we could do, [and we] are close to getting FAA approval to start flying certification flights,” Mike Fleming, Boeing’s senior vice-president for commercial development programs and customer support, told FlightGlobal in May. “The airplane itself is performing very, very well.”
Insider toured one of Boeing’s MAX 10 testbeds at the Paris Airshow in June to learn more about the program, production, and the heavy modifications made to the plane. Take a look.
