What Happened
Low Cost Carrier Shifts To All MAX Fleet Amid Efficiency Drive
Southwest Airlines has announced plans to retire its entire fleet of 571 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft by the end of 2031, replacing them with more fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 7 airframes. The move is part of the airline’s efforts to reduce its average fleet age from 11.5 to 5 years, and to enhance its environmental performance. According to Simple Flying, the retirement plan is driven by the superior fuel efficiency and seating capacity of the MAX aircraft, which will allow Southwest to generate higher revenue per departure without increasing its aircraft count.