FAA restores Boeing authority to certify 737 MAX, 787 planes

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it will allow Boeing BA.N to issue airworthiness certificates for all 737 MAX and 787 airplanes starting next week, a significant milestone for the U.S. planemaker as it ramps up production.

The FAA said the "decision follows months of thorough data and safety review demonstrating consistent production quality and reflects the FAA's confidence in Boeing's ability to issue airworthiness certificates under FAA oversight."

The decision was first reported by Reuters.

The FAA revoked Boeing's authority to approve individual MAX planes in 2019 after a second fatal MAX crash in Ethiopia, and for Boeing 787 airplanes in 2022 due to production quality issues.

In September, the FAA allowed Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for 737 MAX and 787 airplanes on alternating weeks.

"During the past eight months, the FAA has seen comparable production quality findings when Boeing issued airworthiness certificates and when the FAA issued them," the agency said, adding it will continue inspections, audits, and monitoring of Boeing's production system.