Sonali Tiwary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will allow Boeing to issue airworthiness certificates for some 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft starting September 29, 2025, marking a significant shift after years of tight restrictions. Boeing and the FAA will issue these safety certificates on alternating weeks, the agency announced Friday.
This decision partially restores authority that Boeing lost following two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018-2019 and production quality issues with the 787 Dreamliner in 2022. Since March 2019, the FAA has solely handled the certification process that declares each individual aircraft safe to fly.
“Safety drives everything we do, and the FAA will only allow this step forward because we are confident it can be done safely,” the FAA stated. “This decision follows a thorough review of Boeing’s ongoing quality and will allow our inspectors to focus additional surveillance in the production process.”
The change doesn’t affect the production cap of 38 planes per month that the FAA imposed on the 737 MAX following a door panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight in January 2024. Boeing would need extensive FAA reviews before any production rate increase could be approved.
Investors welcomed the news, with Boeing shares rising about 4% on Friday. The eased restrictions come as Boeing recently secured significant orders, including Turkish Airlines’ plans for 75 Dreamliners and up to 150 MAX jets, and Norwegian Group’s order for 30 737-8 aircraft.
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The FAA renewed Boeing’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) for three years in May 2025. This program allows authorized organizations to perform certain certification functions on behalf of the FAA. The limited return of certification authority will free up FAA inspectors to focus on other critical areas of production oversight.
With this change, more FAA inspectors will observe critical assembly stages, examine quality trends, ensure mechanics follow approved design and engineering requirements, and assess Boeing’s Safety Management System. Inspectors will also monitor Boeing’s safety culture to ensure employees can report safety concerns without fear of retaliation.
Earlier in September, the FAA proposed a $3.1 million fine to Boeing over hundreds of quality system violations identified at Boeing’s Renton factory and Spirit AeroSystems’ fuselage facility between September 2023 and February 2024. This enforcement action highlights the continued scrutiny Boeing faces despite the partial easing of restrictions.
Boeing has been working to rebuild trust and improve quality control following multiple safety crises. The company delivered 57 jets in August 2025, including 42 MAX aircraft and 14 widebody planes, bringing its year-to-date total to 385 jets – already surpassing its full-year 2024 deliveries.
The alternating-week certification arrangement represents a careful balancing act for the FAA, which aims to maintain rigorous oversight while acknowledging improvements in Boeing’s systems.
