The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an amended type certificate for the Boeing 737-7, clearing the smallest member of the 737 MAX family to enter commercial service. Boeing and Southwest Airlines, the launch customer for the model, are already making final preparations for the first deliveries.

The certification concludes a multi-year development and testing programme that began in 2018. According to Boeing, the programme included more than 1,000 hours of flight and ground testing, extensive system safety analyses and human factors reviews, as well as modifications to the engine anti-ice system.

During testing, a potential condition related to the engine anti-ice system was identified, prompting Boeing to update the system. The manufacturer said it worked closely with the FAA throughout the process to ensure compliance with the latest certification requirements.

“This important certification validates the rigour of our airplane’s design and recognises the determination and resilience of our 737 MAX development team,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

She added that engineers and test specialists had to overcome a series of challenges during the programme, including the pandemic and the transition to new certification processes.

The Boeing 737-7 is the smallest member of the 737 MAX family, but it also offers the longest range among the currently certified variants. In a two-class configuration, it can carry between 135 and 160 passengers, while its maximum advertised range is 3,800 nautical miles, or approximately 7,040 kilometres.

Boeing says the 737-7 offers around 10% more range potential than the other family members and is particularly well suited to operations from airports at high elevations and in hot climates.

Compared with the aircraft it is intended to replace, Boeing claims the 737-7 reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by around 20%, while cutting the noise footprint by approximately 50%.

Alongside the type certification, the FAA also updated Boeing’s Production Certificate No. 700, known as PC 700, to include the 737-7.

The first aircraft are intended for Southwest Airlines, which was also the launch customer for the new variant. Boeing is currently preparing the initial aircraft in their final configuration and implementing the required updates ahead of delivery.

“Our team held regular and detailed discussions with the FAA to ensure Boeing understood the requirements and provided transparency on our progress,” said Mike Sinnett, Boeing senior vice president of Product Strategy, Product Development and Development Programs.

According to Sinnett, the experience gained during the 737-7 certification process should give Boeing a clearer understanding of the latest regulatory requirements and help accelerate future development programmes, with renewed emphasis on human factors, safety and quality.

Boeing says the 737 MAX family order book now stands at more than 7,200 aircraft. More than 2,300 had been delivered to customers by the end of June 2026.

In addition to the 737-7, the family includes the 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10. The 737-8 typically seats between 160 and 180 passengers in a two-class configuration and has a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles. The larger 737-9 accommodates between 175 and 195 passengers and offers a range of up to 3,300 nautical miles.

The 737-10, the largest member of the family, can carry between 185 and 210 passengers and has an advertised range of up to 3,100 nautical miles. Boeing says it plans to complete certification of the model during 2026.