Southwest Airlines will begin flying passengers on Boeing 737 MAX 7 aircraft in March 2027, according to an internal document. The planes will carry 150 Recaro seats, offer Starlink internet, seat power and larger overhead bins.
Deliveries are planned for mid-to-late December, with Southwest completing FAA operating approvals afterward. The airline plans over 90 training and validation flights before passenger service launches.
The 737 MAX 7 received FAA certification on August 3 after years of delays. Southwest's cabin design incorporates a revised engine anti-ice system, updated flight controls and pilot alerts in the approved model.
The 150-seat configuration avoids triggering an additional flight attendant requirement, which would kick in at 151 seats. The aircraft adds three lavatories compared to two on Southwest's current 737-700 fleet.
Southwest will install Starlink fleet-wide by fall 2027. Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson previously mentioned a spring break launch, but the March 2027 date provides more specific timing.
The airline operates 271 Boeing 737-700s averaging 20 years old as of September 30. Replacing a 137-seat 737-700 with a 150-seat MAX 7 adds 13 seats, roughly 9.5% more capacity.
Watterson identified Burbank to Honolulu, hot-weather Hawaii departures from Phoenix and Las Vegas, and interisland flying as initial uses for the first 27 MAX 7s, taking over routes currently flown by older 737-800s.