FAA Restores Boeing’s Self-Certification Authority for 737 MAX and 787 Jets
In a landmark regulatory milestone effective today, July 20, 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has fully restored Boeing’s authority to issue its own airworthiness certificates for all newly produced 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This is a privilege the agency stripped from the aerospace giant years ago following a series of safety crises.
The FAA had revoked Boeing’s right to self-certify 737 MAX planes back in 2019, following two fatal crashes — Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines — that killed 346 people. The agency further pulled Boeing’s self-certification authority for the 787 Dreamliner in 2022 amid ongoing production quality concerns. A near-catastrophe in January 2024, when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 midflight, only deepened the scrutiny.
Since September 2025, Boeing and the FAA had been sharing the responsibility, alternating weekly who signed off on new jets. After eight months of joint review, the FAA determined that Boeing’s internal findings consistently aligned with government standards. “Safety drives everything we do, and this step forward is only possible because we are confident it can be done safely,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
The restored authority is seen as a major operational and financial milestone for Boeing, one of the biggest U.S. exporters by value, potentially accelerating delivery schedules as the company ramps up 737 MAX production to 47 aircraft per month. FAA inspectors will continue audits and oversight, but will now redirect focus toward earlier stages of the manufacturing process.
Source: CNBC – FAA lets Boeing sign off on 737 Max, 787 airworthiness certificates again