FAA clears Boeing 737 MAX 7, paving the way for Southwest’s launch

The FAA granted certification to Boeing’s smallest 737 MAX variant, the MAX 7, after more than four years of delays, with Southwest Airlines slated as the launch customer and the first deliveries imminent; the MAX 7 seats about 135–160 passengers (up to 172 in high-density layouts) and can fly up to 4,300 miles, enabling longer, thinner routes, while certification delays stemmed from updates to flight-control software, alerting systems, and a redesigned engine anti-ice system; Boeing has built around 30 MAX 7s and 9 MAX 10s, and certification for the MAX 10 is expected soon.