Carrier Is Making The Transition To 737 MAX 8 Airliners

Southwest is about to retire a good portion of its fleet of 737-300 airliners to make way for its new 737 MAX 8 aircraft which will be entering revenue service October 1.

The carrier will be sending 67 of the older airplanes to Southern California Logistic Airport, where they will be stored "until future transaction plans are finalized for each aircraft," according to Southwest spokesman Brian Parrish. The last revenue flight for the 737-300s will be September 29, he said.

The San Bernardino Sun reports that Southwest took delivery of its first 737-300 in 1984. From its inception, the carrier has flown an all-Boeing 737 fleet, and the airplanes are "of varying ages" as new aircraft were acquired over the years, Parrish said.

Eighteen Southwest airliners have already landed at Southern California Logistic Airport, according to spokeswoman Sue Jones. The company that will store the airplanes is ComAv, which says on its website that it offers a "fully integrated solution for asset owners wishing to maximize value and return while managing short storage and reactivation or long term storage and end of life solutions.” The company does not discuss its customers, Jones said.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report