Wedoany.com Report-Dec.12, Southwest Airlines now anticipates that the Boeing 737 MAX 7, the smallest member of the MAX family, will receive type certification around August 2026, with entry into commercial service planned for the first quarter of 2027, CEO Bob Jordan told on Thursday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Wings Club event in New York City, Jordan said: "Boeing has said kind of mid next summer. I would guess it'll be certified, you know, maybe, August of (2026)."

The updated timeline pushes back Southwest's earlier guidance, which had pointed to certification during the first half of 2026 and possible revenue flights as early as the fourth quarter of that year. The MAX 7 is currently excluded from the carrier's 2026 fleet plan.

As the launch customer for the MAX 7, Southwest has a significant order book for the type, which offers lower seat counts and better suitability for thinner routes compared with the larger MAX 8 aircraft already in its fleet.

Boeing continues to increase overall 737 MAX production rates, but certification of both the MAX 7 and the larger MAX 10 has been delayed primarily by the need to resolve an engine nacelle anti-ice system issue. The company is simultaneously working through certification of its 777X widebody program.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has previously indicated that both the MAX 7 and MAX 10 are expected to achieve certification in 2026, without providing a narrower window. On Thursday, Boeing referred inquiries to Ortberg’s prior statements.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has announced intentions to propose regulatory changes aimed at streamlining future aircraft certification processes.