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Southwest Airlines had 817 aircraft at the end of 2023, and every one was a Boeing 737. The fleet comprised 387 737-700s, 207 737-800s and 223 737 MAX 8s. “Close to 800” is a rounded description; 817 is the exact year-end count reported by Southwest.
How many planes did Southwest have in 2023?
Southwest reported 817 aircraft as of December 31, 2023. The figure is a year-end snapshot, not a count of planes currently in service. Its 2023 Form 10-K, filed February 6, 2024, lists the full fleet as Boeing 737 variants.
Southwest’s 2023 One Report summarizes the mix as 48% 737-700s, 25% 737-800s and 27% 737 MAX 8s. The percentages are rounded; the aircraft counts below are the exact model totals in the Form 10-K.
What aircraft were in Southwest’s fleet?
| Aircraft type | Count | Share, rounded | Seats per aircraft | Average age | Owned | Leased |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-700 | 387 | 48% | 143 | 18 years | 352 | 35 |
| Boeing 737-800 | 207 | 25% | 175 | 8 years | 190 | 17 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 (listed by Southwest as “-8”) | 223 | 27% | 175 | 2 years | 194 | 29 |
| Total | 817 | 100%* | — | — | 736 | 81 |
*The rounded model shares add to 100%. Counts, seats, ages and ownership figures are from Southwest Airlines Co.’s 2023 Form 10-K; the rounded shares are from its 2023 One Report.
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The 737-700 was the largest and oldest subfleet
At 387 aircraft, the 737-700 made up the biggest portion of the fleet. Its reported average age was 18 years, compared with 8 years for the 737-800 and 2 years for the MAX 8. The 737-700 also had fewer seats per aircraft: 143, versus 175 for both other models.
Owned and leased aircraft
Southwest reported owning 736 aircraft and leasing 81 at year-end. The 737-700 had the highest leased count at 35; the 737-800 had 17 leased aircraft, and the MAX 8 had 29.
How did Southwest’s fleet change during 2023?
Southwest received 86 737 MAX 8s and retired 39 737-700s during 2023, according to the company’s 2024 full-year results. Those movements shifted the fleet mix toward the newer MAX 8 while reducing the older -700 subfleet. Two additional -700 retirements that had been planned for 2023 moved into 2024, so earlier forecasts should not be confused with the final year-end count.
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Southwest described the MAX additions and -700 retirements as part of fleet modernization and efforts to improve operating costs and fuel efficiency. Those are the company’s stated reasons, not an independent assessment of the financial results of the changes.
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Why does Southwest use a single aircraft family?
Southwest’s 2023 One Report says, “Southwest only operates Boeing 737 aircraft.” The company says its single-fleet strategy helps control costs, support efficient operations, simplify scheduling and streamline training. Keeping aircraft within one family can make common operational procedures and crew training more practical, though the report does not quantify the savings.
Southwest also said the MAX 7 and MAX 8 offer increased range, enhanced flight-deck capabilities and quieter engines. It reported approximately 14% greater fuel efficiency for those MAX models versus the previous generation of 737s. That is Southwest’s published comparison, not an independently verified fleet-wide result; it applies to the stated model-to-generation comparison, not every aircraft in the 817-plane fleet.
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Features on new MAX aircraft
The One Report says new MAX aircraft came equipped with Wi-Fi and next-generation USB-A and USB-C power ports at every seat. It also describes adjustable headrests, lower-profile armrests and improved cushion support. These descriptions concern new MAX aircraft; they do not establish that every Southwest plane, or every MAX 8 in the year-end fleet, had all of those features.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources and date scope
- Southwest Airlines Co., 2023 Form 10-K (filed February 6, 2024): year-end aircraft counts, seats, average ages, and owned-versus-leased totals.
- Southwest Airlines Co., 2023 One Report: rounded model shares, single-fleet strategy and company-described MAX features and efficiency.
- Southwest Airlines Co., full-year 2023 results (published 2024): MAX 8 deliveries, 737-700 retirements and final fleet count.
All fleet counts and model details in this article describe Southwest’s fleet at December 31, 2023, or aircraft movements during calendar 2023. They are historical figures, not a statement of the airline’s current fleet.
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