Southwest Airlines’ Aircrafts in Fleet (2013-2021)

This statistic highlights Southwest Airlines’ Aircraft in Fleet from 2013 onwards, split between 737-700, 737-800, and 737-Max 8.

Southwest Airlines’ Aircraft in Fleet  

Southwest Airlines started its operations with 3 Boeing 737 aircraft serving 3 cities of Texas that is Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. As of December 31, 2020, Southwest Airlines had a total of 718 Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet and served at 107 destinations across 40 states, and 10 near-international countries like Jamaica, The Bahamas, Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, Aruba, Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Turks and Caicos. Apart from serving the existing destinations, in 2020, it began its services in 6 new destinations like Hilo on Hawaii; Cozumel, Steamboat Springs, Montrose, Miami, and Palm Springs.

Boeing 737 

The Boeing 737 Next Generation also called 737NG, is a narrow-body aircraft powered by 2 jet engines. It is produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It has been upgraded in 737 Classic (-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -800) series.

737-700

Southwest Airlines ordered 63 737-700s in November 1993, which were delivered in December 1997. 737-700 replaced 737-300 which had a seating of 126 passengers. 

As Southwest Airlines continues its fleet modernization program, it expects to retire most of its Boeing 737-700 fleet over the next 10-15 years. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the company is evaluating its aircraft retirement plans to determine whether to retain it for a long duration or to stimulate retirements and replacements. 

As of December 31, 2020, Southwest Airlines had 470 737-700 aircraft in the fleet. There has been a decrease in 737-700 aircraft fleet year-over-year growth by 7% from the fiscal year 2019. 737-700 aircraft has 143 seats and has an average age of 16 years. In the fiscal year 2020, out of 470 aircraft, 370 aircraft were owned by the company whereas 100 aircraft were on the lease.

737-800   

 The Boeing 737-800 aircraft is an extended version of the 737-700 aircraft. 737-800 aircraft replaced 737-400 aircraft. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft is a variant of the 737NG. It is a widely used aircraft that has a narrow body. 

As of December 31, 2020, Southwest Airlines had 207 737-800 aircraft in the fleet. There has not been any year-over-year growth in the 737-800 aircraft fleet from the fiscal year 2019. 737-800 aircraft has 175 seats and has an average age of 5 years. In the fiscal year 2020, out of 207 aircraft, 190 aircraft were owned by the company whereas 17 aircraft were on the lease.

737-Max 8

737-Max 8 is a variant developed in the 737 Max series. It replaced 737-800 aircraft as it was more fuel-efficient compared to 737-800 aircraft. Southwest Airlines took delivery of seven new leased Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from third parties in December 2020.

As of December 31, 2020, Southwest Airlines had 41 737-Max 8 aircraft in the fleet. There has been an increase in 737-Max 8 aircraft fleet year-over-year growth by 21% from the fiscal year 2019. 737-Max 8 aircraft has 175 seats and has an average age of 2 years. In the fiscal year 2020, out of 41 aircraft, 21 aircraft were owned by the company whereas 20 aircraft were on the lease.

Company Overview

Southwest Airlines Co. is an American-based company established in 1966 by Rollin King and Herbert Kelleher as Air Southwest Co. that was later renamed Southwest Airlines Co. Its headquarters is in Dallas in Texas. Southwest Airlines Co. completed its initial public offering in 1971 and its common stocks are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “LUV”.

Southwest Airlines Co. is one of the largest passenger airlines that renders scheduled air transportation in the United States and near-international markets. Southwest Airlines Co. faces tough competition from Alaska Air Group, United Airlines, Delta Air Line, JetBlue Airways Corporation, American Airlines, and Air France-KLM.

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