Southwest Airlines takes delivery of its 737th Boeing 737

Nearly 46 years after starting up as a small airline with only three aircraft, Southwest Airlines has taken delivery of its 737th brand new Boeing 737.

To mark the occasion, Boeing hosted a ribbon cutting and signing ceremony at their Seattle Delivery Center. On hand to officially accept the 737th Boeing 737 (N8533S) were Southwest’s Managers of Aircraft Field Services Bill Rogers and Peggy Hain.

Bill and Peggy are based in Seattle to ensure that every 737 that Southwest Airlines accepts meets the airline’s standards. Bill has overseen 545 new aircraft deliveries since joining Southwest in 1991, and Peggy has accepted almost 100 new 737s into the Southwest fleet since joining the airline in 2009. Southwest Airlines appreciates the hard work that Bill and Peggy put into every new 737 delivery and the excellent relationship they maintain with Boeing.

Additionally, Southwest Airlines Captain Jim Tomallo and Captain Jeff Wolf were also at the event and flew the new plane away for the Southwest Family. Jim and Jeff graciously agreed to represent all the Southwest Employees who made the milestone possible by joining Bill and a Boeing representative in signing for the airline’s 737th Boeing 737.

Now that the 737th is officially part of Southwest Airlines’ fleet, it will undergo installation of winglets and WiFi before its final make-ready visit with the airline’s Tech Operational Team. Then, it will take to the skies, and Southwest Airlines will maintain the distinction of being the world’s largest operator of an all-Boeing fleet.

Southwest Airlines has grown from those first three leased aircraft into an airline that now flies to 101 destinations and serves more than 100 million Customers each year with legendary Southwest Hospitality.

8 June 2017

Photos: copyright (c) Boeing and Southwest Airlines