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At December 31, 2022, Southwest Airlines reported a fleet of 770 Boeing 737 aircraft: 426 737-700s, 207 737-800s and 137 737-8s, the variant commonly called the 737 MAX 8. Every aircraft in the year-end fleet was a narrowbody 737. This is a historical snapshot, not a count of Southwest’s current fleet.
What aircraft were in Southwest’s fleet at the end of 2022?
Southwest’s year-end fleet had three reported types. The figures below are from the company’s Form 10-K fleet table as of December 31, 2022; the shares are from its One Report. Seat counts and average ages are fleet-table summaries, not a claim that every aircraft had the same age or cabin configuration. Southwest Airlines 2022 Form 10-K; Southwest Airlines 2022 One Report.
| Aircraft type | Reported seats | Average age (years) | Aircraft | Share of fleet | Owned | Leased |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-700 | 143 | 18 | 426 | 55.3% | 378 | 48 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 175 | 7 | 207 | 26.9% | 190 | 17 |
| Boeing 737-8 (MAX 8) | 175 | 2 | 137 | 17.8% | 108 | 29 |
| Total | — | 12 | 770 | 100% | 676 | 94 |
The 737-700 was the largest group
The 737-700 made up 55.3% of the fleet, more aircraft than the 737-800 and 737-8 combined individually. Its reported 143 seats were fewer than the 175 seats listed for each of the other two types, and its average age of 18 years was the highest of the three.
What changed during 2022?
Southwest took delivery of 68 737-8 aircraft and retired 26 737-700s during the year. Those changes increased the share of the newer MAX 8 variant while reducing the number of the older 737-700s.
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The company said that 46 of 114 contractually scheduled 737 deliveries did not arrive in 2022, citing Boeing supply-chain challenges and delays in certification of the 737-7. Southwest expected those 46 deliveries to shift to future years. The 737-7 was not part of the year-end fleet count: the three types listed at December 31 were the 737-700, 737-800 and 737-8. Southwest Airlines 2022 Form 10-K.
Fleet aircraft versus future orders
At December 31, 2022, Southwest reported 417 firm MAX orders scheduled through 2030 and 147 remaining MAX options. These were future orders and options, not aircraft included in the 770-aircraft fleet total. An order is not the same as a delivered aircraft, and an option is not a firm addition to the in-service fleet.
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What Southwest said about fleet efficiency
In its 2022 Form 10-K, Southwest said that adding 68 737-8s and retiring 26 older 737-700s aided fuel efficiency relative to 2021. It also noted that operating more 737-700s as demand returned affected the comparison. The filing does not quantify fuel savings attributable to those fleet changes, so the statement should be read as the company’s explanation rather than a specific savings estimate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Southwest’s stated operational priorities
In the 2022 One Report, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson connected restoring the network and flying the full fleet with reliability and resilience:
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“Providing reliable, low-cost air travel, complemented by exceptional Customer Service, has been the cornerstone of Southwest’s Purpose for more than 51 years. Our ongoing efforts to restore our network to pre-pandemic levels and fly the full fleet reflect our dedication to strengthening our operational reliability, boosting resiliency in response to ever-changing market dynamics, and ultimately better serving our Customers and supporting our Employees.”
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Source: Southwest Airlines 2022 One Report.
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