World’s largest low-cost carrier, Southwest Airlines, has announced plans to take delivery of 35 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft through the end of 2021.
According to Southwest Airlines, the deliveries include 16 leased aircraft, with expectations of the MAX returning to revenue service in March after all active pilots have received updated MAX-related training.
Early this month, Boeing bagged its first-ever bulk order for the 737 Max aircraft, since its grounding in March 2019. This happened after Irish budget airline, Ryanair agreed to buy 75 of the planes, adding to the 135 MAX jets it previously ordered between 2014 and 2018, none of which have been delivered yet.
Boeing 737 Max has already received its first airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), thus ending its 20-month-old grounding order. The certificate now authorizes the aircraft to fly. However, each new 737 MAX built since the grounding order needs an airworthiness certificate. Furthermore, each U.S. airline will also need the FAA to approve its 737 MAX pilot training program before returning the jets to service.
See Also:
