• 787-8 Dreamliner
    Boeing
    Stock Code:
    BA
    Date Founded:
    1916-07-15
    CEO:
    Dave Calhoun
    Headquarters Location:
    Chicago, USA
    Key Product Lines:
    Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787
    Business Type:
    Planemaker

Summary

  • Over 1160 Boeing 737 MAXs are active, with the majority being the -8 variant, followed by the -8-200 and the -9.
  • Southwest has the most MAX jets, with over 200 in its fleet, while United leads with 79 active MAX 9s.
  • China now has 88 active MAX planes, while Africa has only five operators of the type.

It has been over three years since the FAA recertified the Boeing 737 MAX. While the type's initial recovery was slow, it has gathered pace since. Today, there are 1160 active 737 MAXs - including the MAX 8 and MAX 9 variants, with the MAX 7 and MAX 10 on the way but yet to obtain the green light.

Which airlines operate the most MAX jets?

The majority of active Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are of the -8 variant. The remaining crop is split between the 737 8-200 and the MAX 9. With 956 examples across 69 carriers, the mid-sized -8 variant far overshadows the larger -9 and the higher capacity -8-200. Of course, no airline currently uses the MAX 7 or MAX 10, as both variants are still undergoing certification.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying in the sky.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Regarding the top operators, Southwest has more MAXs than any other carrier, with over 200 in its fleet and plenty more on the way. United remains the leader regarding the -9, with 79 active units of the variant, and is the second-biggest MAX operator overall.

Related
What Are The Main Differences Between Boeing's 737 MAX 7, 8 & 9 Variants?
These variants are the three smallest versions of the MAX.

According to data from ch-aviation, as of December 2023, these are the airlines holding the most active Boeing 737 MAX aircraft:

Airline

MAX 8

MAX 8 200

MAX 9

Total

Southwest

215

215

United Airlines

74

79

153

Ryanair Group

131

131

Alaska Airlines

63

63

American Airlines

56

56

flydubai

51

3

54

Aeromexico

33

18

51

GOL

42

42

Air Canada

40

40

TUI Group

38

38

WestJet

32

32

Turkish Airlines

20

5

25

Only Alaska Airlines exclusively uses the MAX 9 in the above list - however, it has commitments for both the MAX 8 and MAX 10, so this won't be the case forever.

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Longest MAX operators: Check out the longest MAX flights from last month

Across the globe

During the MAX's initial recovery, the most significant gaps in operations were seen in Russia and China. While we can expect this to remain the same for the foreseeable future with 737 MAX operations in Russia, the plane has fortunately returned to the skies over China. There are now an impressive 88 active planes across 11 carriers in the country. 9 Air, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Fuzhou Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Lucky Air, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Xiamen Airlines hold operational units.

A China Southern Boeing 737-8 MAX on an airport apron.
Photo: aappp | Shutterstock

India is supporting Asian MAX flights well. SpiceJet was previously the prime operator; however, Akasa Air is now taking the cake. SpiceJet flies ten MAX 8s while the newcomer operates 20 examples. Air India Express will soon find itself one of the dominant MAX operators in the country, with a total of 55 MAXs due to arrive - as Simple Flying explored recently, many of these aircraft have already been built but not taken up by Chinese customers.

Get all the latest aviation news right here on Simple Flying.

The final remaining regional gap is in Africa due to a lack of operators on the continent. Just five African airlines are currently flying the type - Ethiopian operates 13 MAX 8s, while Royal Air Maroc and ASKY Airlines fly two each, and Air Tanzania and Cabo Verde Airlines operate one apiece. Interestingly, Air Tanzania became the first African operator of the MAX 9 when it took delivery of the plane in October.

How often do you fly on a Boeing 737 MAX? What are your overall thoughts about the type? Let us know in the comment section!