FAA Trusts Boeing Again, Restores Right to Certify Its Own Planes After Years of Scrutiny

Boeing has achieved a significant milestone in its long journey to rebuild trust after years of safety concerns, with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing the aircraft manufacturer to once again certify its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft as airworthy before delivery.

The decision, which takes effect next week, marks the end of years of heightened regulatory oversight that followed a series of safety and production issues involving Boeing's most important aircraft programmes.

The FAA said it reached the decision after conducting months of detailed reviews and comparing Boeing's inspections with those carried out by federal officials. According to the regulator, both teams consistently reached the same conclusions while issuing airworthiness certificates, giving the agency confidence that Boeing's final safety inspections now meet the required standards.

Since September last year, Boeing and FAA inspectors had been alternating responsibility for the mandatory final aircraft inspections before new planes were cleared for delivery. The successful results from that joint process paved the way for the restoration of Boeing's certification authority.

The company lost the ability to certify 737 Max aircraft in 2019 after two fatal crashes involving the model exposed flaws in its flight-control software. In 2022 , the FAA also removed Boeing's authority to self-certify 787 Dreamliners , citing concerns over production quality and manufacturing standards.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the move reflects the agency's confidence that safety remains the top priority. While Boeing will resume issuing airworthiness certificates, federal inspectors will continue monitoring its factories and manufacturing processes to identify potential quality issues much earlier.

The latest decision is another sign that regulators are gradually easing restrictions imposed on Boeing. Earlier this year, the FAA also began relaxing production caps introduced after a door panel detached from an Alaska Airlines-operated 737 Max during a flight in January 2024 . The monthly production limit has since increased from 38 aircraft to 47 , reflecting growing confidence in Boeing's manufacturing improvements.

Although Boeing did not immediately comment on the announcement, the FAA's decision represents a major step in the company's efforts to restore credibility with regulators, airlines and passengers worldwide after one of the most challenging periods in its history.