Almost A Decade Later, Boeing's Smallest 737 MAX Is Finally Certified: What's Next?

Boeing launched the Boeing 737 MAX program in 2011 to compete with Airbus’ newly launched A320neo. The aircraft family offered efficiency gains over previous-generation 737s through several design updates, including the Boeing Advanced Technology winglet, which reduced fuel use and CO2 emissions by at least 14% compared with Next-Generation 737s. However, the program soon faced a series of challenges that would make it one of the most troubled in the manufacturer’s history.