WestJet Joins United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair and Alaska Airlines in Enduring the Turbulent Path to the Boeing 737 MAX 10 Launch, Here is What You Need to Know

Published on November 21, 2025

The global aviation industry is waiting. It is a wait that has spanned years, cost billions of dollars and forced some of the world’s largest carriers to completely rewrite their future strategies. At the center of this waiting game sits one machine: the Boeing 737 MAX 10. It was promised as the ultimate competitor to Airbus, a narrowbody jet that could carry more passengers than ever before. But promises have turned into delays. Now, Canadian carrier WestJet has confirmed what many feared. They, too, must wait. This is not just a story about a single airline. It is a saga that connects WestJet, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair and Alaska Airlines in a shared struggle. They all bet their futures on the Boeing 737 MAX 10. Now, they are all navigating the turbulence of a delayed launch that has no concrete end date in sight.

WestJet Confirms the New Reality

The news broke on a Tuesday in November. Alexis von Hoensbroech, the CEO of WestJet, spoke to Reuters with a mix of optimism and hard reality. The airline officially expects to receive its first Boeing 737 MAX 10 by the end of 2026. This is a significant moment. WestJet has been a loyal Boeing customer. They have built their fleet around the 737 family. They have bet big on the Boeing 737 MAX 10 to be the backbone of their future expansion.

The airline originally hoped for a much earlier arrival. The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is crucial for them. It offers the ability to carry more passengers without adding more flights. This efficiency is the holy grail for airlines operating out of high-density hubs. But that efficiency is now locked behind a gate labeled Certification.

WestJet maintains confidence in the American planemaker. Von Hoensbroech stated that they believe the program is moving forward. However, belief does not fly passengers. The delivery schedule now points to the fourth quarter of 2026. This is a timeline that forces WestJet to keep older planes longer. It forces them to lease aircraft they didn’t plan to use. It changes the financial math of the airline for the next two years.

The Safety Hurdle That Stopped the Fleet

Why is this happening? Why can’t Boeing simply deliver the planes? The answer lies in a small but critical component: the engine anti-ice system.

Testing revealed a safety hazard. Under specific dry-air conditions, the anti-ice system could cause the inner barrel of the engine to overheat. In extreme cases, this could lead to parts of the engine breaking off. For the FAA and for Boeing, this was a non-negotiable issue. The Boeing 737 MAX 10 cannot be certified until this is fixed permanently.

A waiver was granted for the smaller MAX 8 and MAX 9 because they were already flying passengers. But the Boeing 737 MAX 10 is a new plane. The FAA and the US Congress demanded a permanent redesign before it carries a single paying passenger. Boeing says they have redesigned the part. They are working through the paperwork. But regulatory wheels turn slowly. This safety hurdle is the primary reason WestJet, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair and Alaska Airlines are currently parking their growth plans.

United Airlines Makes a Drastic Pivot

While WestJet is holding the line for 2026, United Airlines has taken a different, more drastic approach. United Airlines was supposed to be the massive launch customer for the Boeing 737 MAX 10. They had hundreds on order. They planned to use them to replace their aging fleet of Boeing 757s and Airbus A320s.

But early in 2024, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby made a stunning move. The airline officially removed the Boeing 737 MAX 10 from its internal fleet plan for the immediate future. They did not cancel the order entirely, but they stopped counting on it.

United Airlines could not afford to wait indefinitely. They had a schedule to keep. When it became clear that certification would drag into 2025 or beyond, United Airlines started looking elsewhere. They converted some orders to the smaller MAX 9. More significantly, they turned to Boeing’s rival, Airbus, securing A321neo aircraft to fill the gap. This was a clear signal to the market: United Airlines needs planes today, not promises for tomorrow.

Delta Air Lines and the Long Wait

Delta Air Lines came to the Boeing 737 MAX 10 party later than others, but they arrived with a splash. In July 2022, Delta Air Lines ordered 100 of the jets. It was a massive victory for Boeing. Delta Air Lines is a savvy buyer and had been leaning heavily toward Airbus for years. Winning the Delta Air Lines account was seen as a turning point for the MAX program.

The original plan was for deliveries to start in 2025. That timeline has now evaporated. Delta Air Lines has updated its fleet expectations. They now see deliveries slipping into 2026 or even 2027.

For Delta Air Lines, this delay is manageable but frustrating. They have a diverse fleet. They can keep flying their older A321s and 737-900ERs a little longer. But every month of delay is a month where Delta Air Lines misses out on the fuel efficiency of the new jets. The Boeing 737 MAX 10 was supposed to lower their seat-mile costs significantly. Now, those savings are pushed further into the future.

Ryanair and the “Gamechanger” Delay

Across the Atlantic, Ryanair is famously the world’s most vocal Boeing customer. Their CEO, Michael O’Leary, does not mince words. Ryanair calls the Boeing 737 MAX 10 the “Gamechanger.” For a low-cost carrier like Ryanair, this plane is gold. It fits 230 passengers. That is far more than their current fleet.

Ryanair has ordered 150 of these high-capacity jets. They want them desperately to crush competitors on European holiday routes. But the delay has hit them hard. In recent financial updates, Ryanair confirmed that the first delivery is not expected until the spring of 2027.

Think about that date. Spring 2027. That is years away. Ryanair originally hoped to have these planes flying by now. The delay means Ryanair cannot grow as fast as it wants. It means higher fares for passengers because there are fewer seats in the market. O’Leary has stood by Boeing, but the frustration is palpable. Ryanair needs the Boeing 737 MAX 10 to keep its costs the lowest in Europe. Every day the plane sits in certification is a day of lost opportunity.

Alaska Airlines Reconfigures for the Future

Alaska Airlines is another key player in this drama. They are an all-Boeing carrier (after phasing out Airbus jets). Their loyalty to the manufacturer is deep. Alaska Airlines restructured its order book in October 2022 to include 42 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft.

For Alaska Airlines, the MAX 10 is a strategic weapon. They plan to use it on transcontinental routes and flights to Hawaii. These are popular, busy routes where having extra seats prints money.

But like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines is stuck in the holding pattern. Their fleet planners have to scramble. They are taking more MAX 9s and keeping older 737s in service. Alaska Airlines is known for its operational efficiency. These delays throw a wrench into their finely tuned machine. They are ready for the Boeing 737 MAX 10, but the plane is not ready for them.

The Domino Effect on Global Aviation

The pain is not limited to WestJet, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair and Alaska Airlines. The delay of the Boeing 737 MAX 10 is a global event.

In Europe, the TUI Group converted orders to the MAX 10 to fly huge numbers of tourists to the Mediterranean. They are waiting. In Asia, VietJet ordered 80 of the jets to fuel Vietnam’s tourism boom. They are waiting. In India, Akasa Air placed a massive order to capture the exploding travel market there. They are waiting.

Even Copa Airlines in Panama is rethinking its strategy. Reports suggest they might convert their Boeing 737 MAX 10 orders back to smaller jets because they simply cannot wait any longer. This is the danger for Boeing. If the wait gets too long, airlines stop waiting. They switch.

The Financial Toll of the Delay

For WestJet, the decision to stick with the Boeing 737 MAX 10 until late 2026 comes with a price tag. Airlines plan their budgets years in advance. They count on new, fuel-efficient planes to lower their biggest expense: jet fuel.

Old planes are thirsty. New planes like the Boeing 737 MAX 10 sip fuel. By delaying the entry into service, WestJet, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are forced to burn more fuel. This hurts their bottom line. It also hurts their sustainability goals.

Furthermore, WestJet has had to turn to the leasing market. Renting used aircraft is expensive. It is a stop-gap measure. It keeps the airline flying, but it eats into profits. WestJet wanted to own its new fleet, not rent older planes. The delay forces them into a corner where they have to pay more just to maintain the same schedule.

A Mountain of Work Remains

Boeing is not sitting idle. The company is working feverishly to solve the problems. They have made systemic changes. They even bought Spirit AeroSystems, the supplier that builds the fuselage, to get better control over quality.

The production rate for the certified MAX 8 and MAX 9 has recently increased. This is a good sign. It shows that the factory is starting to hum again. But the Boeing 737 MAX 10 remains the final piece of the puzzle.

Certification is a rigorous process. The FAA is watching every move. After the tragic accidents of the past, no one is taking shortcuts. The redesign of the anti-ice system must be perfect. It must be tested in the real world. It must be documented. Only then will the FAA sign off.

The Optimism of WestJet

Despite the challenging situation, WestJet remains optimistic. The CEO conveyed, that while there is frustration, the commitment to progress remains strong. He expressed confidence that the situation was moving forward.

This loyalty is essential for Boeing. WestJet could have cancelled. They could have defected to Airbus. But they stayed. They see the value in the Boeing 737 MAX 10. When it finally flies, it will be a remarkable machine. It will offer the lowest seat cost of any single-aisle airplane. That is a powerful economic argument that keeps airlines like WestJet and Ryanair in the queue.

Conclusion: The Final Approach?

The aviation world is watching the calendar. 2025 will be a year of critical testing. 2026 will be the year of hope. For WestJet, the end of 2026 is the new target. For United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair and Alaska Airlines, the timeline varies, but the goal is the same.

They all want the Boeing 737 MAX 10. They all need the Boeing 737 MAX 10. The aircraft represents the future of efficient, high-capacity travel. But to get to that future, they must navigate the turbulent present. The delay is a test of patience, financial resilience and loyalty.

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 will eventually fly. It will carry millions of passengers. But for now, it sits on the ground, a symbol of potential and a reminder of the rigorous road to safety. WestJet has set its watch for late 2026. The rest of the industry can only hope that this time, the schedule holds.

Image- westjet.com