Garuda takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

Garuda Indonesia has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first of 50 on order. Traditionally a Boeing operator for it's narrowbody requirements, the company's low cost subsidiary Citilink operates A320s and A320 NEOs.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 62093 L/N 6713 F/F 12/5/17
Garuda Indonesia PK-GDA Delivered 12/21/17

Garuda - Current Fleet
16 x ATR-42/72
18 x CRJ-1000
73 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
7 x A330-200
17 x A330-300
10 x 777-300ER
Total: 142

Mauritania Airlines takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

Mauritania Airlines International has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, joining a mostly all Boeing fleet. Commencing operations in 2010, following the demise of former national carrier Mauritania Airways, the airline has become the de-facto flag carrier operating short to medium haul service within West Africa. This is presently MAI's sole order for a 737 MAX 8, and is planned to be operated to Paris and Jeddah.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 64299 L/N 6704 F/F 12/7/17
Mauritania Airlines International 5T-CLJ Delivered 12/20/17

Mauritania Airlines - Current Fleet
1 x ERJ-145
2 x 737-500
1 x 737-700
1 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
Total: 6

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

Neos takes delivery of first 787-9

Neos (Italy) has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 787-9, leased from AerCap, joining it's existing long haul fleet of three 767-300ERs. The 787 will initially operate from Milan Malpensa to Phuket, Mombasa and Cancun.

Boeing 787-9 MSN 38785 L/N 639 F/F 11/22/17
Neos EI-NEO Delivered 12/12/17

Neos - Current Fleet
5 x 737-800
3 x 767-300ER
1 x 787-9
Total: 9

China Eastern takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8, becoming the fifth Chinese operator of the new model. The airline has a further 59 on order, and 70 A320 NEOs (none delivered yet).

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 61623 L/N 6542 F/F 11/16/17
China Eastern Airlines B-1383 Delivered 12/6/17

China Eastern - Current Fleet
39 x 737-700
35 x A319
83 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
74 x A321
180 x A320
28 x A330-200
20 x A330-300
20 x 777-300ER
Total: 480

Jet Time retires last 737-300

Jet Time (Denmark) retired it's last 737-300, leaving it with a fleet of five 737-700s. The airline operated a total of ten -300s, including two convertible passenger / freight aircraft from September 2006. Two 737-400s were also operated briefly, one in 2010 and one in 2013. Five 737-400F freighters were operated between 2013 and this year, with all now disposed of, as the airline focuses exclusively on it's passenger charter services.

Boeing 737-3L9 MSN 27834 L/N 2692 F/F 1/23/95
Maersk Air OY-MAS 2/21/95 - 11/20/98
GB Airways G-OGBE 11/23/98 - 12/24/03
BMI Baby G-OGBE 5/17/04 - 3/5/09
Jet Time OY-JTE 5/4/09 - 12/5/17 [Last Jet Time 737-300]
Stored Lasham, UK

Flybondi takes delivery of first 737-800

Flybondi (Argentina) has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737-800, leased from SMBC. A second aircraft is due soon, which will enable the airline to commence low cost (LCC) service from initially El Palomar, Buenos Aires. Ten aircraft are planned to be in service by the end of 2018.

Boeing 737-8AS MSN 33821 L/N 1698 F/F 4/16/05
Ryanair EI-DHM 4/28/05 - 3/28/12
Nok Air HS-DBD 5/9/12 - 9/22/17
Flybondi LV-HKS 11/25/17 - present

LOT - Polish Airlines takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

LOT - Polish Airlines has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first of six being leased from Air Lease Corporation (US). It is also ALC's first 737 MAX delivery. Earlier this year, LOT leased four used 737-800s from AerCap, as it looks to substantially expand it's short and medium haul fleet and route network.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 64067 L/N 6681 F/F 11/22/17
LOT - Polish Airlines SP-LVA 12/1/17 - present

LOT - Current Fleet
10 x Dash 8
6 x CRJ-900
6 x ERJ-170
10 x ERJ-175
6 x ERJ-195
3 x 737-400
4 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
8 x 787-8
Total: 54

Turkish Airlines takes delivery of first 777F

Turkish Airlines has taken delivery of a first Boeing 777F, adding to it's existing dedicated freighter fleet that includes three A310-300Fs and eight A330-200Fs

Boeing 777-FF2 MSN 60403 L/N 1532 F/F 11/22/17
Turkish Airlines TC-LJL 11/30/17 - present

Turkish Airlines - Current Fleet
1 x 737-700
7 x A319
80 x 737-800
24 x A320
15 x 737-900ER
68 x A321
1 x A310-300F
25 x A330-200
8 x A330-200F
35 x A330-300
4 x A340-400
1 x 777F
33 x 777-300ER
Total: 302

China Southern takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

China Southern Airlines has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, joining three other Chinese airlines (Air China, Hainan Airlines and Shanghai Airlines) that have each received one. The airline has a further 79 MAX 8s on order (two additional aircraft were delivered 11/29), with further orders pending government approval. China Southern is the world's fourth largest airline, and the biggest in Asia.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 63245 L/N 6569 F/F 10/3/17
China Southern Airlines B-1206 11/28/17 - present

China Southern Airlines - Current Fleet
26 x 737-700
28 x A319
124 x A320
7 x A320 NEO
152 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
97 x A321
6 x 757-200
10 x 787-8
16 x A330-200
28 x A330-300
2 x 777-200
12 x 777F
10 x 777-300ER
2 x 747-400F
5 x A380
Total: 526

Shanghai Airlines takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

Shanghai Airlines has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, becoming the third Chinese airline (after Air China and Hainan Airlines) to operate the type. Shanghai Airlines is now a wholly owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, and receives it's aircraft as allocated by the parent company.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 61621 L/N 6464 F/F 9/30/17
Shanghai Airlines B-1382 11/27/17 - present

Shanghai Airlines - Current Fleet
10 x 737-700
76 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
4 x 767-300
1 x 767-300ER
3 x A330-200
3 x A330-300
Total: 98

Alaska Airlines retires the 737-400

Alaska Airlines, with little fanfare, retired it's last Boeing 737-400 passenger aircraft earlier this month. The airline's 737-400 Combis were retired in October, while a sole 737-400F freighter remains in service. Alaska has converted two 737-700s into freighters to replace the -400s, the first such conversions.

Boeing 737-4Q8 MSN 25095 L/N 2266 F/F 4/3/92
Alaska Airlines N754AS 4/17/92 - 7/15/14
Safair ZS-JRI 11/6/14 - present

N754AS (above) was Alaska's first 737-400 delivered in April 1992, one of 22 leased new from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC). An additional 17 were ordered by Alaska directly, while one used aircraft was acquired in 1996. The final three deliveries were in 1999, giving Alaska a total of 40.

Four aircraft were later converted to Combis to replace 737-200C flying in Alaska, while two were converted to pure freighters.

Retirement was gradual with the in service fleet total (as of January 1st) first seeing a reduction to 37 in 2009, 33 in 2010, 31 in 2011, 29 in 2014, 27 in 2015, 26 in 2016 and 16 by the start of 2017. Boeing 737-800s and -900ERs have replaced the type. No accidents or serious incidents were recorded by Alaska's 737-400 fleet.

Aerolineas Argentinas takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

Aerolineas Argentinas is the latest recipient of a first Boeing 737 MAX 8, which Boeing is churning out at a fair clip now. JetTrak will provide a round up of 737 MAX and A320 NEO 2017 total deliveries and current customer base early in the new year.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 64207 L/N 6661 F/F 11/7/17
Aerolineas Argentinas LV-GVD 11/22/17 - present

Aerolineas Argentinas - Current Fleet
8 x 737-700
31 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
10 x A330-200
4 x A340-300
Total: 54

Hainan Airlines takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

Hainan Airlines (China) has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, joining Air China, which recently also took delivery of it's first example. Hainan is known to have a commitment for up to 50 737 MAX 8s.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 62183 L/N 6616 F/F 10/24/17
Hainan Airlines B-1390 11/18/17 - present

Hainan Airlines - Current Fleet
3 x 737-700
143 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
3 x 767-300ER
10 x 787-8
14 x 787-9
9 x A330-200
13 x A330-300
Total: 196

Eastar Jet leases a second ex-Lion Air 737-900ER

Eastar Jet (South Korea) has added a second ex-Lion Air (Indonesia) Boeing 737-900ER. The Seoul based low cost carrier commenced service January 7th 2009 and operates an all Boeing 737 fleet to 14 destinations in eight countries.

Boeing 737-9GPER MSN 35710 L/N 2285 F/F 5/30/07
Lion Air PK-LFH 6/12/07 - 6/17
Eastar Jet HL8096 7/13/17 - present

Eastar Jet - Current Fleet
2 x 737-700
15 x 737-800
2 x 737-900ER
Total: 19

Ukraine International leases first 777-200ER

Ukraine International Airlines has leased it's first (of four) used Boeing 777-200ERs. All four are leased from AerCap, and were orginally delivered new to Asiana Airlines. UIA plans to initially operate the aircraft to New York JFK, followed by other North American and Asian destinations.

Boeing 777-28EER MSN 28681 L/N 322 F/F 1/29/01
Asiana Airlines HL7596 2/14/01 - 9/20/17
Ukraine International Airlines UR-GOA 11/14/17 - present

UIA - Current Fleet
5 x E-190
4 x 737-500
3 x 737-300
21 x 737-800
4 x 737-900ER
4 x 767-300ER
1 x 777-200ER
Total: 42

EVA Air takes delivery of first 777F

EVA Air (Taiwan) has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 777F, one of five that the airline will receive to replace it's 747-400Fs.

Boeing 777-F5E MSN 62824 L/N 1526 F/F 10/27/17
EVA Air B-16781 11/8/17 - present

Boeing has delivered 133 Boeing 777Fs, all of which are currently in service.

EVA Air - Current Fleet
1 x ACJ319
21 x A321
3 x A330-200
9 x A330-300
1 x 777F
34 x 777-300ER
5 x 747-400F
Total: 74

Allegiant Air retires the 757

Allegiant Air (US) ended Boeing 757 service, with it's final two aircraft being ferried to Victorville, CA October 31st for storage.

Boeing 757-204 MSN 26963 L/N 450 F/F 4/22/92
Britannia Airways G-BYAD 5/6/92 - 11/1/05
Thomsonfly G-BYAD 11/1/05 - 11/1/08
Thomson Airways G-BYAD 11/1/08 - 11/17/09
Air Finland OH-AFL 3/15/11 - 4/9/12
Allegiant Air N901NV 6/10/12 - 8/31/16
Retired Stuttgart, AR

Allegiant operated six 757s, from July 2011. The entire fleet had been acquired from Thomson Airways in 2010, with Allegiant initially leasing out the aircraft to European airlines. The 757s were primarily acquired for ETOPS service from Las Vegas to Hawaii.

The 757s were Allegiant's first departure from a DC-9/MD-80 fleet, and were subsequently joined by A319s and A320s. The latter types will become Allegiant's core fleet following the MD-80's retirement next year.

The sun has set on United's 747 operations

United today ended 747-400 service, with a final revenue passenger flight from San Francisco to Honolulu.

Like most US Majors in the early 1970s, it was a must have to acquire 747-100s as an airline's flagship aircraft, typically used on premium coast to coast domestic service (United, American & Delta), with Pan Am, TWA and Northwest operating the type on key transatlantic and transpacific routes.

Many also went on to acquire new or used 747-200s, as well as 747-SPs, the latter acquired by United when it took over Pan Am's transpacific routes. No 747-300s were ever ordered or operated by US airlines.

The aircraft proved too large though, with most phased out of domestic service by the mid-70s, and replaced by tri-jet DC-10s and L-1011s (which were also too large initially). Braniff alone stuck with narrow bodies for domestic routes, which turned out to be strategically the correct decision at the time.

The second generation, and most important 747 of the last two decades was the 747-400, ordered in significant quantities by United and Northwest.

Boeing 747-422 MSN 24322 L/N 733 F/F 5/25/89
United Airlines N171UA "Spirit of Seattle II" 6/30/89 - 10/26/15

N171UA was the first -400 delivered to United, seen above in original delivery colors, the first of four liveries this aircraft would carry during it's 26 year career.

N171UA in United's new 1990s livery

United took delivery of 44 747-400s, the final delivery being in May 2000. All were model 747-422s, with the exception of two 747-451s, built for Northwest, but sold new to United.

United's 2000s livery

This livery was relatively short lived, as following the 2011 merger with Continental, the latter's color scheme was selected for the 'new' United.

N171UA - final United / Continental livery

The post 9/11 world saw United make adjustments to it's fleet, and the 747-400 did not escape a reduction. By 2015, 31 were in service, 25 by 2010, and 22 by 2015. N171UA was retired in October 2015.

N171UA in permanent retirement at Tupelo, MS. Others have been retired at Victorville, CA while 13 have gone on to serve other airlines.

United has replaced the 747-400 with 777-300ERs and 787-9s

Air China takes delivery of it's first 737 MAX 8

Air China has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first delivery of the MAX to a Chinese customer. Boeing notes it plans to deliver up to 100 MAXs to Chinese airlines by the end of 2018. 35 737 MAX models have been delivered to date.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 60872 L/N 6490 F/F 8/23/17

Air China B-1397 Delivered 11/3/17

Air China - Current Fleet

33 x A319

20 x 737-700

47 x A320

122 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8

61 x A321

5 x 777-200

11 x 787-9

30 x A330-200

29 x A330-300

26 x 777-300ER

3 x 747-400

6 x 747-800I

Total: 394