Several operators around the world have grounded their Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after the second Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash in only five months. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has requested Chinese airlines to suspend the operation of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft over safety concerns.

Currently, there are approximately 350 737 MAX aircraft in operation. However, Boeing has received more than 5,000 737 MAX orders from over 100 customers around the globe. In fact, the 737 MAX is Boeing's fastest-selling aircraft ever.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 can carry up to 210 passengers. Photo: Boeing.

The current average price of the aircraft is $99.7 million for the 737 MAX 7, $121.6 million for the 737 MAX 8, $128.9 million for the 737 MAX 9, and $134.9 million for the 737 MAX 10.

What airlines have the Boeing 737 MAX on order?

Based on information provided by Boeing, as of the end of January 2019, there were 4,661 unfilled orders for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Even though leasing companies have placed many of these orders, over 2,400 of them were made by airlines. There are also 1,045 orders from unidentified customers.

Let's take a look at the list of airlines awaiting delivery of the aircraft. (This list contains open orders for all members of the 737 MAX family, not broken down by type.)

Customer

Number of Aircraft on Order

Aerolineas Argentinas

9

Aeromexico

55

Air Canada

41

Air Europa

20

Air Niugini

4

Air Peace

10

Alaska Airlines

32

American Airlines

78

Arik Air

8

Blue Air

6

China Southern Airlines

34

Comair Limited

8

Copa Airlines

56

Donghai Airlines

25

Enter Air

4

Ethiopian Airlines

25

Fiji Airways

3

flydubai

237

Garuda Indonesia

49

GOL Linhas Aereas

129

Icelandair

2

Jeju Air

40

Jet Airways

125

Jetlines

5

Korean Air

30

Lion Air

187

Malaysia Airlines

25

Nok Air

6

Norwegian Air Shuttle

92

Okay Airways

9

Oman Air

20

Ruili Airlines

36

Ryanair

135

SilkAir

32

SkyUp Airlines

7

Smartwings

7

Southwest Airlines

249

SpiceJet

129

SunExpress Airlines

32

TAROM Romanian Air Transport

5

TUI Travel

61

Turkish Airlines

68

Turkmenistan Airlines

3

United Airlines

124

UTair Aviation

28

VietJet Air

100

Virgin Australia Airlines

40

WestJet Airlines

43

As we can see, among the airlines, Southwest Airlines has the most open orders with 249. Southwest is closely followed by Dubai's low-cost carrier flydubai, who are awaiting the delivery of 237 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Lion Air comes in at number three with 187 open orders.

Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft have been popular with airlines and aircraft leasing companies alike. Photo: Boeing.

Will some airlines cancel their orders due to safety concerns?

Reportedly, Lion Air was thinking about canceling $22 billion worth of Boeing 737 MAX orders after the crash, because the airline felt "betrayed." Nonetheless, the airline has not canceled any orders to date.

Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8
Lion Air is awaiting the delivery of 187 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Photo: Wikimedia.

According to the Malaysian newspaper Malay Mail, Malaysian Airlines has not made 'any immediate decision on whether [the airline] will continue with its purchase for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 after [the] second crash'. Currently, the airline does not have any 737 MAX aircraft in its fleet, although they are expecting the first to be delivered next year

There are no official reports of other airlines weighing their options yet.

Do you think that airlines will cancel their orders for the aircraft after the two crashes?