Southwest Airlines to be Launch Customer of Boeing 737 MAX 7

Southwest Airlines, launch customer for the Boeing 737 MAX program, became the first airline to order the 737 MAX 7, when it converted 30 existing orders for Next-Generation 737s into orders for the 737 MAX 7.

Southwest also exercised options to add five more Next-Generation 737-800s to its fleet.

Those airplanes, along with the 737 MAX 7s, are part of Southwest's ongoing effort to improve fuel efficiency and profitability. Southwest is expected to take its first 737 MAX 7 delivery in 2019.

"We are thrilled to announce that Southwest Airlines and Boeing have entered into an agreement for Southwest to be the launch customer for the Boeing MAX 7 series, with deliveries beginning in 2019," said Gary C. Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO. "The 737 MAX 7 builds on the strengths of today's Next-Generation 737-700, incorporating the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines is expected to reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions by an additional 12 percent over today's most fuel-efficient single-aisle airplane."

The 110-ft long 737 MAX 7 incorporates the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, and will extend the range over today's 737-700 by approximately 400 nautical miles (741 km). 

With the MAX 7 conversions and exercised options for 737-800s, Southwest's unfilled orders consist of 180 737 MAX airplanes and 137 Next-Generation 737s.

The 737 MAX now has orders for 1,315 airplanes.