The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday that he expects the Boeing 737 MAX 7 to be certified this summer and the larger MAX 10 to be approved before the end of the year.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters at an aviation forum in Washington that he also expects Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab will again hike production of the 737 MAX in the next 90 days. He said the FAA supported Boeing’s decision to hike production from a rate of 42 planes per month to 47 planes.
«It’s important for the country that Boeing is successful,» Bedford said. «We are absolutely comfortable with 42 to 47 and I suspect in another 30, 60, 90 days we’re going to see continued rate increases.»
In October, the FAA gave Boeing approval to raise 737 MAX production to 42 planes per month, ending a 38-plane cap in place since January 2024.
The company said it aims to move to 52 jets a month early next year, after opening a fourth 737 production line in Everett, Washington.
The MAX 7 is a shortened version of the two types already in service, the MAX 8 and 9, which have accumulated tens of thousands of flight hours…
