Inc. magazine describes as “stunning” announcement from Southwest Airlines, “by far the biggest 737 Max customer in the United States, with 34 of the planes among its fleet, and plans for many more. ”

Speaking at a chamber of commerce event in Dallas, Southwest chairman and CEO Gary Kelly said Southwest has no plans to abandon the 737 Max. In fact, he said it will purchase “hundreds” more 737 Max aircraft. “It’s a very good airplane, but Boeing has acknowledged that they’ve got some things they need to address with the software in that airplane,” Kelly said, according to the Dallas Business Journal. “It seems like it’s a relatively straight-forward modification. We’re obviously anxious to get the airplane back in service.”
That’s it: all-in on the 737 Max. Or at least close to it…

By flying just one aircraft, Southwest knows that almost any of its pilots can fly any of its planes. Its scheduling and maintenance tasks become a lot easier than for airlines with multiple types of aircraft. But it also means that ultimately, Southwest’s brand and its overall success are tied up with Boeing and the 737 in a way that few other airlines are.
Marketwatch adds that in fact, major airlines “are hungry for fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft such as the Max, and there’s a long backlog for the jet’s closest competitor, Airbus SE, analysts at Oxford Economics said in a note Thursday.
“That will shield Boeing from a mass cancellation of orders,” the analysts said.

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Source:: Slashdot