Boeing's largest 737 Max takes flight amid headwinds from Airbus

Washington

BOEING'S newest and largest 737 Max gunned down the runway and soared over the shore of Lake Washington, south of Seattle, on its maiden flight on Thursday.

The latest model in Boeing's best-selling jet family achieved the critical milestone at 10.52am local time, days after the Chicago-based planemaker celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first 737 flight. The single-aisle Max 9 faces an uncertain future, however, in a market dominated by Airbus's longer A321neo.