Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest low-cost carrier, operates a fleet of all Boeing 737 family of aircraft, of which the 737 MAX is the fastest currently operating for the Dallas-based carrier. The Boeing 737 MAX, of which Southwest operates over 250 of the MAX 8, cruises at around Mach 0.79 (530 knots or 609 mph or 980 km/h), with a top speed of Mach 0.82 (541 knots or 623 mph or 1,003 km/h). These figures were confirmed by Boeing’s official specifications.
For Southwest, it has banked its future on the success of the 737 MAX, which has 270 MAX 8 already in operation, with another 178 on order. This will solidify Southwest as the largest operator of the 737 MAX overall, with the airline planning to replace its aging 737-800 fleet with the ultra-modern and quick MAX.
Southwest Airlines Takes Flight
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Southwest Airlines, which operates a fleet of all Boeing aircraft, has more than 800 aircraft currently in its fleet, made up of 315 active Boeing 737-700, 197 Boeing 737-800, and 270 Boeing 737 MAX 8 according to ch-aviation, and the carrier will welcome approximately 500 MAX aircraft over the next decade. The total number of aircraft in the airline’s fleet makes it one of the largest airlines in the world by fleet size, and the world’s largest operator of the 737 family of aircraft.
The US Low-Cost Carrier, has been a loyal customer of the Boeing 737 throughout its history, all except for a brief period in the 70s and 80s, where the airline operated six Boeing 727-200 aircraft. A common fleet is a normal model for low-cost carriers, as this simplifies pilot, crew, and maintenance programmes across the airline’s network. This reduced training and maintenance costs.
Based at Love Field in Dallas, Texas, Southwest is the fourth largest airline in the United States (after United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines), and serves over 100 destinations in 42 states, in addition to Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The airline also has an expanding international footprint, with 10 other foreign destinations including Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos.
The 737 MAX At Southwest
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
Southwest has around 500 737 MAX on its order books, with the carrier already operating almost 150 of the MAX 8 type. The airline received its first MAX aircraft on August 29, 2017, becoming the first airline in North America to operate the type. The first commercial flight for Southwest onboard the MAX took place on October 1, 2017. Southwest also holds the title for the 10,000 Boeing 737 ever delivered, a tribute to the most popular aircraft type ever, tracing its history back to the beginning of its production in January 1967. The 10,000th ever 737 at Southwest, holds registration N8717M, holding a commemorative L1 inside the aircraft’s door.
The MAX has faced several challenges since its introduction, related to both crashes of the aircraft for Lion Air (Flight 610) and Ethiopian Airlines (Flight 302), where these fatal flights killed all passengers onboard. Both flights prompted a two-year global grounding for the aircraft to allow Boeing and investigators to ascertain what occurred, and to provide improvements to the airplane.
How Quick Can The 737 MAX Fly
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The first of all MAX variants developed, the MAX 8 was derived as a direct replacement for the 737-800. The aircraft, according to Boeing, can cruise at MACH 0.79, which equates to 530 knots or 609 mph or 980 km/h. At top speeds, this can reach up to Mach 0.82, translating to 541 knots or 623 mph or 1,003 km/h. Test flights for the MAX 8 were completed in La Paz, Bolivia, with the high altitude of El Alto International Airport (LPB) being the perfect location to test under these conditions, before being delivered to its first customer, Malindo Air (Malaysia).
According to Boeing, the most typical layout for the MAX 8 is a total of 178 seats, across two classes (16 business, and 166 economy). The maximum condensed layout can seat between 189 to 210 (210 specifically on the 737-8-200 with Ryanair). Cargo capacity is also strong for this airplane, with 1,540 cubic feet (44 square meters), over 400 additional cubic feet when compared to the MAX 7, at 1,139 cubic feet (32.3 cubic meters).
The length of the MAX 8 stretches as long as 129 feet, six inches (39.47 meters), with a wingspan of 117 feet, ten inches (35.92 meters). This amounts to 1,370 square feet (127 square meters) in total area. All of the MAX variants are powered by the CFM International LEAP-1b Engines, which for the MAX 8 enables a range of 3,500 nautical miles (4,000 miles or 6,500 kilometers) at a ceiling height of 41,000 feet (12,000 meters).
Southwest’s Future With The 737 MAX
Photo: SoulRider.222 | Flickr
Those traveling on the Southwest MAX 8 aircraft can sit back and relax with in-seat power ports and large overhead bins. The airline is also retrofitting these to several older-generation variants. Passengers can also enjoy fast onboard WiFi and app features that allow them to make the most of their travel experience.
While the MAX 8 already provides a backbone to the airline’s trans-American operations, the carrier has also been patiently waiting for the delivery of the first of 342 MAX 7s destined for the low-cost carrier. According to the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Jordan, the certification for this long-awaited aircraft is expected to be in the first half of 2026, leading to the first delivery of many for the airline by later that year.
The delay of the MAX 7 has led to the delayed retirement of many current Southwest aircraft, due to the technical challenges that Boeing faced in the redesign of the aircraft’s engine anti-ice system. Despite these delays, Southwest has continued to shuffle its network, including the introduction of ‘Red Eye’ services, and also the bold move to shift to ‘high density stations’, shifting the airline’s previous focus on point-to-point operations.
A Look At The Southwest 737 Fleet
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
As already outlined, Southwest operates the largest all-737 fleet of any carrier in the world. Southwest was the launch operator of the 737-700, and remains its biggest operator with 342 still flying. These aircraft can accommodate 143 passengers in a single class configuration. The 737-700 and 737-800 are all expected to be retired in the early 2030s, with both variants set to be replaced by the MAX 7 and MAX 8. These aircraft can accommodate 148 (MAX 7) and 175 (MAX 8) passengers, respectively.
To date, Southwest operates more than 800 aircraft in its network, with 491 left on order. Many of its aircraft across the fleet have various iconic liveries that depict sports teams, historic liveries, and other designs, alongside its classic liveries that feature three main colours, blue, red, and yellow. Data below, as per ch-aviation:
Aircraft type
Boeing 737 MAX 7
Boeing 737 MAX 8
On order
295
178
In Service
–
270
Seats (single class configuration)
148
175
Additional Notes
Planning for entry into service in 2026
Largest MAX variant
Southwest briefly flirted with the idea of introducing the Airbus A220 as an alternative to the MAX 7 in October 2020; however, this idea was short-lived, with the carrier announcing an order for 100 MAX 7. Initially, these aircraft were expected to be introduced in 2022, but as seen, they are yet to be delivered.
The Fastest Aircraft At Southwest
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Boeing’s enhanced efficiency and passenger capacity of the MAX have made it a popular choice for airlines looking for an aircraft in the single-aisle market. These aircraft deliver great economics and reduce fuel emissions by 20% when compared to previous-generation airplanes.
The 737 MAX can offer 14% lower maintenance costs than its closest competitor, and produces a 50% smaller noise footprint than the -700 and -800 variants. Passengers onboard can enjoy the Boeing Sky Interior, which has modern sculpted walls and window reveals, with LED lighting that showcases the sense of spaciousness and large overhead storage.
Across Southwest’s history, it has continued to push the boundaries for US aviation, and since its humble beginnings, the airline has ballooned to one of the world’s largest and most iconic carriers, and with the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft onboard, it continues to soar to new heights.
Hub(s)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dallas Love Field, Denver International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Houston Hobby Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Midway International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Year Founded
1967
CEO
Robert Jordan
