Which Airlines Have The Biggest Boeing 737 MAX Orders?

With talk of the Boeing 737 MAX entering the recertification process in October, it is certainly possible that the aircraft could take to the skies again soon. While Boeing hasn't stopped making the aircraft, deliveries have paused. Around 5,000 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft have been ordered by 79 companies. Simple Flying takes a look at 10 of the largest airline orders for the Boeing 737 MAX.

1. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines placed the first order for the Boeing 737 MAX on the 13th of December 2011. Their current order stands at 280 aircraft, of which 31 have been delivered. This leaves 249 aircraft outstanding. As such, Southwest Airlines is the largest single customer of the Boeing 737 MAX.

2. flydubai

The next largest customer of the Boeing 737 MAX is flydubai. The United Arab Emirates low-cost carrier has a total of 251 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. The order was placed on the 31st of December 2013. Additionally, the first of 14 aircraft that have been delivered to the airline arrived on the 31st of July 2017.

flydubai Boeing 737 MAX order — flydubai has the second-largest Boeing 737 MAX order. Photo: Boeing

3. Lion Air

Lion Air clocks the third biggest order for the Boeing 737 MAX with 201 of the aircraft. The airline originally placed its order on 22nd of February 2012. To date, the airline has also received 14 aircraft. However, one of these sadly crashed, leading in part to the current 737 MAX grounding.

Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX — The airline was already having a difficult 2019 with the Boeing 737 MAX grounding. In October 2018, it was the first of two airlines to suffer a disastrous crash of a 737 MAX. Photo: Boeing

4. VietJet Air

VietJet Air is launching two new routes to India by the end of the year using Airbus A320 family aircraft. The airline has an order for 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft originally placed on the 22nd of May 2016. However, is yet to receive its first order.

4.5. IAG

IAG has not placed a formal Boeing 737 MAX order, hence its position between 4 and 5. The airline group issued a letter of intent for 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft during the Paris Air Show. These could be delivered as soon as 2022.

British Airways Comair Boeing 737 MAX 8 landing — IAG could order 200 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Photo: Boeing

5. United Airlines

United Airlines has 137 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. The airline's original order was placed on the 12th July 2012, and 14 have been delivered so far. Yesterday we reported that United Airlines is sending its 737 MAX fleet into storage.

United Airlines 737 — United is sending its MAX aircraft into storage. Photo: Boeing

6. SpiceJet

SpiceJet's Boeing 737 MAX order is for one less aircraft than United Airlines at 136. The airline's original order was placed on the 23rd of October 2013. So far seven MAX aircraft have been delivered to SpiceJet.

7. GOL Linhas Aereas

Again, with one less order than the previous airline, GOL Linhas Aereas has 135 aircraft from the 737 MAX family on order. The low-cost Brazilian carrier has received six of the aircraft which were originally ordered on the 1st of October 2012.

8. Ryanair

Ryanair also has 135 firm Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. The airline has ordered the -200 variant of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. It was due to receive its first aircraft in April of this year, however, this date was missed due to the aircraft's grounding. Ryanair's original MAX order was placed on the 24th of November 2014.

8.5 Jet Airways

According to Boeing's order books, Jet Airways has 125 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order since the original order date of 23rd of April 2013. We've placed the airline between 8 and 9 as it is currently not operational. However, the airline has not been declared bankrupt yet.

9. Norwegian Air Shuttle

Norwegian has a total of 110 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order. To date it has received 18 of these aircraft, leaving 92 orders outstanding. As a result of the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, Norwegian has had to scrap its Irish transatlantic routes.

10. American Airlines

American Airlines has the 10th largest airline order for the Boeing 737 MAX. The airline has 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order, and so far 24 of these have been delivered. American Airlines originally placed the order on 1st of February 2013, with the first aircraft being delivered on the 28th of September 2017.

Have you flown on a Boeing 737 MAX? What were your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.