Southwest Airlines converts some Boeing 737 MAX 7 orders to MAX 8 amid delays

Southwest Airlines has exercised options for the delivery of 30 Boeing 737 MAX 7 planes next year, and converted 24 existing MAX 7 orders to MAX 8, the company said in an SEC filing on Friday.

The move comes two days after Boeing said the first delivery of the 737 MAX 7 was delayed to 2024 as it tries to secure Federal Aviation Administration certification for the narrow-body jet.

→ Alaska Airlines partners with NASA and Boeing to develop sustainable airliner

Southwest’s decision to convert some MAX 7 orders to the MAX 8 model, which is already in operation, would buffer the impact of the delivery delays.

Southwest Airlines has plans to fly the MAX 7 “at some point next year”, but if not, it would take MAX 8 orders instead, CEO Robert Jordan said.