Southwest flåten passerer 800 fly - Simple Flying

 

Southwest Airline’s Fleet Surpasses 800 Aircraft

BYJUSTIN FOSTER

PUBLISHED 16 HOURS AGO

The airline's most recent delivery brings the total fleet to over 800 aircraft.

Photo: Marco Menezes | Shutterstock

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has reached 804 total aircraft in its fleet. The airline's most recent delivery was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as N8883Q. Southwest Airlines took delivery of the aircraft on July 10, when it flew from King Country International Airport-Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle, Washington, to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Arizona.

The extensive Boeing fleet

Since the airline's inception in March 1967, Southwest Airlines has almost exclusively flown variants of the Boeing 737. This was except for a brief period in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the airline leased variants of the Boeing 727s.

The airline currently only operates Boeing 737 variants. As of July 10, Southwest Airlines now operates 804 total aircraft. Seven hundred seventy-three of the airline's aircraft are registered as currently being in service, while 31 aircraft are registered as parked. This includes 737-700s, 737-800s, and 737MAX-8s.

Southwest Airlines currently operates 408 of the Boeing 737-700 variants. Three hundred eighty-five of these are operating, while 23 are parked. The airline operates 200 active 737-800s and has seven parked. Out of the 189 737MAX-8s, only one is parked, meaning the remaining are operative.

Additionally, the oldest aircraft in Southwest's fleet is a Boeing 737-700 registered as N750SA. It was delivered in September 1999, which means it has an age of 23.9 years.

Historically, the airline has also operated the 737-200, 737-300, and 737-500. These have all since been retired. Southwest Airlines had flown 62 total 737-200s, 195 737-300s, and only 25 737-500s.

Additionally, the airline has several other variations of 737s on order from Boeing. It has 31 planned orders of the 737MAX-7 and an additional 33 737MAX-8s on order.

Southwest Airlines grows its fleet despite other recent incidents

In recent days a Southwest airplane hit a light pole while taxiing at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). The aircraft had traveled from Houston Hobby International Airport (HOU) before running into an off-pavement light pole. None of the 172 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight were injured.

Earlier this month, another Southwest Airlines aircraft suffered damage when it struck a bird while landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). The airplane's nose sustained a dent from the collision before landing safely. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.

Additionally, in mid-June, Southwest Airlines was struck with severe technical issues at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The technical issues affected the ticketing process, which forced passengers to get stuck in long lines. This issue eventually led to Southwest Airlines apologizing to those affected, as delays spread across different flights. The airline stated on June 17,