Alaska Airlines CEO Stays Calm Over New Boeing Max 10 Delay

Boeing's newest airplane, the 737 Max 10, has hit yet another roadblock — but at least one major airline customer isn't panicking.

What happened? The 737 Max 10 is Boeing's biggest jet in its best-selling Max family. Before airlines can fly it, it needs approval (called certification) from the FAA — the U.S. government agency that makes sure planes are safe. That approval has now been delayed again because of a software glitch (a bug in the plane's computer programs).

The problem could cut off some automated navigation information to pilots. Specifically, it can happen when a plane misses its landing approach and has to circle around to try again.

The CEO's reaction: Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said he is "not overly concerned" about the delay. On the same day, Alaska announced a big upgrade to its planes, adding more premium seats, including fancy lie-flat suites (seats that recline into flat beds) on the Max 10. Those are supposed to start flying in late 2028.

Here are the key facts:

• The Max 10 is the last Boeing Max model still waiting for approval.
• Big customers include Alaska, United, Delta, and American Airlines.
• The FAA said its approval will be delayed, which pushed Boeing's stock price sharply lower.
• Boeing's CEO recently said he expected approval "very soon."
• Ryanair's CEO (a European budget airline) expects certification in "a matter of days, not weeks or months."

Why does this matter? When a company's product gets delayed, investors often worry it will lose money, so its stock (a small piece of ownership in the company) can drop in value — which is exactly what happened to Boeing.

The bottom line: The Max 10 has been years behind schedule, and this latest glitch adds more uncertainty. But airlines like Alaska are staying optimistic and working with regulators to get the plane flying.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/29/boeing-max-delay-alaska-airlines-ceo.html