Aircraft
Southwest Lays Plans for Larger 737s
Southwest Airlines expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 737-800 in March 2012, the company’s chairman, president and CEO, Gary Kelly, revealed duri

Southwest Airlines expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 737-800 in March 2012, the company’s chairman, president and CEO, Gary Kelly, revealed during a Wings Club luncheon in New York City today. The airline plans to substitute order position on twenty 737-700s for slots on the same number of 737-800s. It remains in negotiations with Boeing over the precise terms, including configuration and equipment options.

Current plans call for delivery of all 20 of the 737-800s in full ETOPS configuration to allow Southwest to fly to Hawaii. Southwest also expects to opt for the Dreamliner-inspired Sky Interior, featuring a quieter cabin, more modern-looking sidewalls and window reveals, more overhead stowage space, increased headroom and LED reading and ceiling lighting.