https://www.seattletimes.com/business/s ... r-40-jets/

I know, I know, shocking right?

Article states will be the largest 737 MAX operator. Moved ahead of some customers to get earlier deliveries

This may be a more accurate title:

Southwest Airlines has exercised 40 Boeing 737-8 options. This is the lead sentence in the AWIN online article..

AA had deferred 40 737-8's until 2025, so this may be where some of the delivery slots were freed up from.

Probably more 737-8s is my guess. I didn't see the model type in the link. Would be cool if they pulled the trigger on the 737-10 just for the sake of variety.

It's a conversion and therefore a new order. WN's fleet of 737s is a monster. It looks like the MAX is set to run along side its older sibling/stablemate 737-700s and 737-800s.

One has to wonder if Boeing didn't have a card up their sleeve when AA deferred 40 737-8s a few weeks back. Gain 40+ 787s and within 6 weeks sell the slots you let AA defer on to WN. Everyone is happy.

CX747 wrote:

It's a conversion and therefore a new order. WN's fleet of 737s is a monster. It looks like the MAX is set to run along side its older sibling/stablemate 737-700s and 737-800s.

One has to wonder if Boeing didn't have a card up their sleeve when AA deferred 40 737-8s a few weeks back. Gain 40+ 787s and within 6 weeks sell the slots you let AA defer on to WN. Everyone is happy.

Both Boeing and Airbus have no trouble selling early slots. I'd bet if more early slots we're offered, WN would have bought a few more.

Lightsaber

No fan of WN, but really Really REALLY hoping that someday they'll step up and make a big commitment to the 737-10

Bet they could easily fill it to yield from their bigger stations, and it'd definitely be a shot in the arm to that derivative's program.

LAX772LR wrote:

No fan of WN, but really Really REALLY hoping that someday they'll step up and make a big commitment to the 737-10

Bet they could easily fill it to yield from their bigger stations, and it'd definitely be a shot in the arm to that derivative's program.

Gary has shown some interest in the -10. Personally I'm more interested in the -7 order. But learning for the labor fiasco that was the -800 order, id imagine a similar battle for the -10 by the union.

It would seem this order is for additional 737-8s. IF this is for growth, a WN fleet of 737-700/800s in addition to -7/8s is going to be massive. You are looking at a WN with the 737 as its beating heart for at least another 15-20+ years.

They are also retiring 30 of the oldest 737-700s.

dcajet wrote:

They are also retiring 30 of the oldest 737-700s.

I've been wrong before but I believe WN just retired their 737-300s. Any news I have seen is that the massive second hand buy of 737-700s is over and that fleet will keep running as is until 737-7 deliveries start in 2022.

CX747 wrote:

dcajet wrote:

They are also retiring 30 of the oldest 737-700s.

I've been wrong before but I believe WN just retired their 737-300s. Any news I have seen is that the massive second hand buy of 737-700s is over and that fleet will keep running as is until 737-7 deliveries start in 2022.

40 73G will be leaving the fleet in 2019-2022.

http://atwonline.com/aircraft-orders-de ... ax-options

LAX772LR wrote:

No fan of WN, but really Really REALLY hoping that someday they'll step up and make a big commitment to the 737-10

Bet they could easily fill it to yield from their bigger stations, and it'd definitely be a shot in the arm to that derivative's program.

It is just employee banter, but I have heard that on the finance/account teams they are looking at the -10, with little to no chance given to the -9. Agree, would be great to see WN order the -10.

LAX772LR wrote:

No fan of WN, but really Really REALLY hoping that someday they'll step up and make a big commitment to the 737-10

Bet they could easily fill it to yield from their bigger stations, and it'd definitely be a shot in the arm to that derivative's program.

It makes sense for them to eventually buy the -10. It can be put to good use on quite a few high density routes.

EvanWSFO wrote:

LAX772LR wrote:

No fan of WN, but really Really REALLY hoping that someday they'll step up and make a big commitment to the 737-10

Bet they could easily fill it to yield from their bigger stations, and it'd definitely be a shot in the arm to that derivative's program.

It makes sense for them to eventually buy the -10. It can be put to good use on quite a few high density routes.

Yes just have the Max10s based out of their FLL MCO LAS hubs as those are their key high volume lower yielding hub bases that can sustain it year round.

EvanWSFO wrote:

LAX772LR wrote:

Bet they could easily fill it to yield from their bigger stations, and it'd definitely be a shot in the arm to that derivative's program.

It makes sense for them to eventually buy the -10. It can be put to good use on quite a few high density routes.

Of course they know better than us, but it's hard to envision them not being able to fill them to yield, even if just restricted to flying between major focii like LAX/LAS/PHX/MDW/DAL/HOU/MCO/FLL/BWI/etc