Southwest orders 150 737 MAX airplanes and 58 Next-Generation 737s

Southwest Airlines finalized a firm order for 150 fuel-efficient 737 MAX airplanes. Southwest is the first customer to finalize an order for the 737 MAX and becomes the launch customer for the new LEAP-1B engine-variant.  In addition, the airline expanded its current order book with an order for 58 additional CFM56-7BE-powered Next-Generation 737-800s. The firm order is the largest in Boeing history both in dollar value, nearly $19bn at list prices, and the number of airplanes. It supports Southwest’s initiative to modernize its all-Boeing fleet, the world’s largest fleet of 737s.  As the 737 MAX launchcustomer, Southwest will take delivery of the first airplane when it enters service in 2017.