Southwest Airlines has placed a new order for 108 Boeing 737-7 aircraft. As the largest operator of the 737 family in the world, the airline reaffirms its commitment to the American manufacturer, despite the delays experienced in the 737 MAX delivery schedule.
The airline now has a total of 300 Boeing 737-7 aircraft on order, increasing Southwest’s order book to 500 aircraft. The 737-7 is still in the certification process, and once completed, 31 aircraft of this model will automatically join the company’s fleet.
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Bob Jordan, President and CEO of Southwest Airlines, «We have a long history with Boeing, dating back over 50 years when we started service with three Boeing 737 aircraft serving three cities. They are part of our history and part of our future, as we continue to recognize the many efficiencies and cost savings of a single fleet.»
Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that «with the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, Southwest has the exceptional efficiency and reliability of the 737 MAX family. The 737-7 is critical to Southwest’s long-term fleet modernization strategy, and we are honored that the airline continues to trust us to supply its future fleet.»
The 737-7 is the aircraft with the longest range in its segment, capable of flying up to 3,800 nautical miles (7,037 kilometers) while carrying up to 172 passengers.