Southwest Airlines considers ordering 300 Boeing 737 MAX

Southwest Airlines - Boeing 737 MAX - Photo: Larry MacDougal 

More than a dozen Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAXs are scheduled to fly in the coming days or have already completed multiple flights, as the airline became the third US company to return the 737 MAX to active passenger service joining American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines.

The Dallas-Love Field-based airline wants to acquire up to 300 Boeing 737 MAX, consisting of 130 firm orders and 170 optional orders.

The airline intends to replace its aging fleet of 737-700 Next Generation (NG), which averages 16 years.

Once Southwest confirms the order, the order for all 300 aircraft would be a record for the Boeing 737 MAX, only overshadowed by Lion Air's purchase agreement in February 2012. At that time, the Indonesian airline signed 201 firm orders and 150 Boeing 737 MAX options, plus 29 737-900ER orders.

Southwest Airlines fleet utilization statistics on RadarBox:

Southwest Airlines flight statistics on RadarBox: