Southwest’s CEO Sees Boeing Max 7 Certification Sliding to 2026

Boeing Co.’s 737 Max 7 jetliner won’t be certified until the first half of 2026, missing the US planemaker’s target of wrapping up work this year, according to the model’s largest customer.

Southwest Airlines Co. expects the smallest model in its narrowbody Max family to be certified in the late first quarter or early second quarter of 2026, Bob Jordan, the airline’s chief executive officer, said in an interview.

Initial deliveries would start around the same time, and the airline wouldn’t begin flying the plane until late in the year at best.

“We’re not counting on it in ...