The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects to certify the Boeing 737 MAX 7 later this month. Southwest Airlines currently holds orders for 258 of the smallest MAX model.
The FAA also plans to restore Boeing’s authority to perform final safety signoffs for new 737s. The agency revoked this privilege in 2019 following two fatal crashes involving larger MAX jets. Restoring this authority will streamline production as Boeing increases output to meet airline demand.