Southwest is first to finalize 737 MAX order
By Seattle Business Magazine December 14, 2011
With a firm order for 150 737 MAX airplanes, Southwest Airlines is in line to receive the first delivery in 2017 of the fuel-efficient 737 MAX, giving it the designation of launch customer and keeping its place as Boeings largest 737 customer.
The airline also ordered 58 additional next-generation 737s, bringing the total dollar value of the 208-plane order to nearly $19 billion the largest order in Boeings history in both dollar value and number of airplanes. Southwest now has placed orders for 350 of the 737 family of planes, with outstanding options on 242 additional planes.
The order also puts to rest rumors attributed by The Seattle Times to Airbus sales chief John Leahy that Boeing was still considering an all-new single-aisle airplane to replace the 737. Jim Albaugh, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, claims the 737 MAX has 948 firm commitments and orders from 13 customers, and projects 1,400 or 1,500 firm commitments by the end of 2012.