Southwest's 737-700 fleet reaches 500 in service

Southwest Airlines (US) now has 500 Boeing 737-700s in service, over 40% of the world's fleet of 1,183 of the type in service. The airline took delivery of it's first aircraft (as launch customer and the first delivery) December 17th 1997. 363 new aircraft were delivered from Boeing until the last delivery December 21st 2011. In the meantime, Southwest has added to it's fleet with used acquisitions (purchased and leased) since 2000. Only 9 used aircraft were added between 2000 and 2011, but this accelerated considerably thereafter. 11 in 2012, 8 in 2013, 56 in 2014, 28 in 2015, 17 in 2016 and 15 this year, of which six have yet to enter service. Southwest similarly added used 737-300s to it's fleet of new aircraft, where favorable purchase or lease opportunities presented themselves. The same is not true of 737-800s so far, the oldest of which was delivered to Southwest in March 2012. New 737-800 deliveries continue, along with 737 MAX 8s.

Boeing 737-7H4 MSN 27835 L/N 4 F/F 4/1/97
Southwest Airlines N700GS 12/17/97 - present
Original delivery colors, no winglets, 'eyebrow' cockpit windows

New colors, winglets, eyebrow windows removed, but yet to make it into latest colors

Southwest Airlines - Current Fleet
500 x 737-700
173 x 737-800
12 x 737 MAX 8
Total: 685

Eastern Air Lines continues to shrink

Eastern Air Lines (US) has reduced it's fleet to two 737-800s, following the return to lessors of it's sole 737-700, along with three 737-800s in the first half of 2017.

Miami, FL based Eastern is branded and liveried in the style of the original Eastern Air Lines that ceased operations January 18th 1991, having acquired the intellectual property and trademarks of the original airline.

Earlier this year, Swift Air (US) announced plans to acquire Eastern, and continue operating the carrier as a stand alone unit. Eastern has thus far operated as a charter airline, with scheduled service plans for the future. The airline has orders for 9 x 737-800s, 10 x 737 MAX 8s and 20 x Mitsubishi MRJ90s.

[Postscript: Eastern's last 737-800 was transferred to new owner Swift Air 9/2/17, so for now at least, it would appear the Eastern brand has quietly disappeared. The status of future orders as detailed above is to be determined].