The Federal Aviation Administration has pushed back approval of Boeing's 737 MAX 10, citing a software glitch that needs to be resolved before certification can proceed. Boeing shares extended recent losses on the news. CEO Kelly Ortberg, who has been running the company for two years, had been counting on the MAX 10 rollout as a marker of progress in Boeing's recovery from its earlier safety crises.
The delay matters because the MAX 10 is Boeing's largest narrow-body variant and a key competitive answer to Airbus's A321neo. Airlines that have ordered the jet, including large carriers planning fleet renewals, now face further uncertainty on delivery timing. Separately, the US Transportation Secretary has urged Congress to approve $30 billion in aviation funding, underscoring broader strain on the aviation regulatory and infrastructure system.
What remains unresolved is how long the software fix will take and whether the FAA will require additional testing cycles beyond the current delay. Boeing has not given a new certification timeline.