Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 Max (36929/5992) N8707P taxies at Dallas Love Field (DAL/KDAL) on September 30, as it readies to enter service on October 1.
(Photo by Michael Carter)
(Photo by Michael Carter)
Southwest Airlines launched the Boeing 737 MAX 8 into revenue service on its network Oct. 1, flying from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby Airport for its first official flight with the CFM International LEAP-1B-powered aircraft.
Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly called the MAX 8 “the future of the Southwest fleet.” The Dallas-based carrier launched nine 737 MAX 8s into service Oct. 1 and will add five more to its fleet by the end of 2017. The airline plans to have a fleet totaling 707 aircraft by the end of 2017 comprised entirely of 737-700s, 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s; all of its 737 Classics have been retired.
The airline’s 737 MAX 8s are configured with 175, 32-inch pitch seats in a single-class layout.
Southwest, which Boeing has said played a pivotal role in helping design the aircraft, becomes the first North American airline to operate the aircraft, which entered service with Malaysia’s Malindo Air in May 2017. Southwest test flew a MAX 8 on simulated operations over six days in September 2016.
Southwest has orders for 200 737 MAX aircraft, a combination of the 8 and 7 models.
(Aaron Karp - ATWOnline News)
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