Southwest Cuts Expected 737 Max Deliveries for 2025 Amid Boeing Delays

Southwest Airlines has revised its 2025 delivery forecast for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, anticipating fewer arrivals due to ongoing production delays, CEO Bob Jordan revealed in an interview with Bloomberg. The delays stem partly from a seven-week machinist strike, with Boeing requiring up to two months to normalize production rates.

Southwest now expects to receive 73 MAX aircraft in 2025, including 44 B737-7s, 21 B737-8s, and eight additional units of either type. This is down from an earlier projection of 86 aircraft based on 2023 estimates. Notably, the B737-7 variant still awaits FAA certification, further impacting delivery timelines.

In response to these delays, Southwest has implemented measures to manage overstaffing, including offering voluntary redundancies to ground staff and slowing its hiring rate. The airline’s conservative estimates are even lower than Boeing’s revised forecasts, reflecting cautious planning amid uncertainty.

Southwest’s delivery adjustments also align with its 2024 figures, which included 85 contractual deliveries. However, only 20 B737-8s were delivered between January and October.

“The company will continue to monitor Boeing’s delivery schedule and adapt expectations accordingly,” Southwest said in a statement.

These delivery delays are set to influence Southwest’s capacity growth plans, underscoring the broader challenges faced by airlines reliant on Boeing’s production timelines.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com