page_title: Boeing 737 MAX
section_title: Introduction
hierarchical_section_title: Boeing 737 MAX / Development / Introduction
caption_attribution_description: Boeing 737/8 MAX of Batik Air Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur-KUL, Malaysia, 12/09/17.
context_page_description: The Boeing 737 MAX is the fourth generation of the Boeing 737, a narrow-body airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It succeeds the Boeing 737 Next Generation.
  It is based on earlier 737 designs, with more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B engines, aerodynamic changes including its distinctive split-tip winglets, and airframe modifications.
  The new series was publicly announced on August 30, 2011. It took its maiden flight on January 29, 2016 and gained FAA certification in March 2017. The first delivery was a MAX 8 in May 2017, to Malindo Air, with whom it commenced service on May 22, 2017.
  The 737 MAX series has been offered in four variants, offering 138 to 204 seats in typical two-class configuration and a 3,215 to 3,825 nmi range. The 737 MAX 7, MAX 8, and MAX 9 are intended to replace the 737-700, -800, and -900, respectively. Additional length is offered with the further stretched 737 MAX 10. As of December 2019, the Boeing 737 MAX had received 4,932 firm orders and delivered 387 aircraft.
  In the aftermath of two fatal accidents, Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, the 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March 2019.
context_section_description: The first delivery was a MAX 8, handed over to Malindo Air (a subsidiary of Lion Air) on May 16, 2017; it entered service on May 22. Norwegian Air subsidiary Norwegian Air International was the second airline to put a 737 MAX into service, when it performed its first transatlantic flight with a MAX 8 named Sir Freddie Laker on July 15, 2017, between Edinburgh Airport in Scotland and Bradley International Airport in the US state of Connecticut, followed by a second rotation from Edinburgh to Stewart Airport, New York.
  Boeing aimed to match the 99.7% dispatch reliability of the 737 Next Generation (NG). Southwest Airlines, the launch customer, took delivery of its first 737 MAX on August 29, 2017. Boeing planned to deliver at least 50 to 75 aircraft in 2017, 10–15% of the more than 500 737s to be delivered in the year.
  After one year of service, 130 MAXs had been delivered to 28 customers, logging over 41,000 flights in 118,000 hours and flying over 6.5 million passengers. flydubai observed 15% more efficiency than the NG, more than the 14% promised, and dependability reached 99.4%. Long routes include 24 over 2,500 nmi (4,630 km), including a daily Aerolineas Argentinas service from Buenos Aires to Punta Cana over 3,252 nmi (6,023 km).
  In 2019, Moody's had estimated Boeing's operating margin to be $12–15 million for each 737 Max 8 at its list price of $121.6 million, although the list price is usually discounted 50-55% in practice. This high margin was made possible by the efficiencies of production volume and the amortization of development costs and capital investment over the decades of the program run. However, costs have since risen significantly and the margin reduced following the second crash, the FAA grounding and the severe disruption to production. 
  Boeing estimated it would cost an additional $6.3 billion to produce the remaining 737 MAX program, $4 billion for "future abnormal costs" as production restarted, plus an estimated $8.3 billion for concessions and compensation to customers. The rising costs also led Moody’s to downgrade Boeing’s credit rating.
caption: The Boeing 737 MAX 8 entered service with Lion Air's subsidiary Malindo Air (wearing Batik Air Malaysia livery)
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