United Will Not Be A Launch Customer of New Boeing 737 MAX 10

CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) expects its Boeing 737 Max 10 deliveries, initially set for 2020, to begin in 2027 or 2028. Due to certification delays, the airline may no longer be the Max 10’s launch customer.

In 2017, United Airlines (UA) secured its status as the Max 10’s inaugural customer by transforming orders for 100 737 Max variants into 167 Max 10, with original plans to take delivery of the first aircraft by 2020.

Photo: Boeing Airplanes

Max 10 Certification Hurdles

During a New York City Event on May 14, 2025, United Airlines CEO Andrew Nocella said that they are facing significant delays in receiving the largest 737 variant, now expected in 2027 or 2028.

Initially slated for 2020 deliveries, the Max 10’s certification remains stalled due to FAA scrutiny following the 2018 and 2019 Max 8 crashes.

Boeing requires exemptions for the jet’s stall management yaw damper, which fails to meet current safety standards, delaying approval.

The uncertainty has led United (UA) to question its status as the Max 10’s launch customer. Boeing prioritises Max 7 certification before the Max 10, further clouding timelines. United’s 167 Max 10 orders are critical for high-demand domestic routes like San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK), but delays force reliance on existing Max 9s.

United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX TAKEOFF from Chicago. Photo: Cado Photo

United Fleet Adjustments

To offset Max 10 delays, United (UA) continues acquiring 737 Max 9s, which offer similar efficiency but less capacity. The airline, with 80 Max 9s in service, plans to integrate additional units through 2027, ensuring operational continuity.

Nocella emphasised a cautious approach, stating United (UA) will not convert Max 9 orders to Max 10s until certification is secured, avoiding risks seen in the Max 8 grounding that cost airlines $20 billion, per IATA.

The Max 9s, 15% more fuel-efficient than older 737s, support United’s sustainability goals, cutting emissions by 12%. However, the smaller Max 9 limits growth on high-yield routes, delaying United’s plan to boost domestic capacity by 8% by 2028, per CAPA.

Boeing’s certification struggles stem from heightened FAA oversight after the Max 8 crashes, which killed 346 people, and a 2024 Max 9 door plug incident, prompting a 30% production slowdown, per Reuters. The Max 10’s yaw damper issue requires design changes or exemptions, with Boeing projecting certification no earlier than late 2026.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Economic Impact

The Max 10 delay strains United’s $2 billion fleet renewal budget, with 2025 capital expenditure up 10% due to extended Max 9 leases, per earnings data.

Passengers face limited seat availability on popular routes like Chicago (ORD) to Orlando (MCO), with fares rising 5% year-over-year, per ARC.

The delay’s ripple effect hits Boeing, with $1.5 billion in delayed revenue from United’s orders, per Bloomberg. The Max 10, once certified, will enhance United’s competitiveness, offering 10% more seats than Delta’s A321neo on similar routes, per Routes Online, strengthening its transcontinental network.

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