11 Months Later: Inside The 737 MAX’s US Recovery

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It has been nearly 11 months since the first B737 MAX took off in the United States following the FAA’s recertification. Since then, use to, from, and within the country has come a long way, with over 19,000 flights this month. The MAX very much revolves around the US and broader North America, not least because China has yet to recertify it.

Boeing 737 MAX, Deliveries, Recertification
With 69 B737 MAX 8s, Southwest has by far the most domestic US MAX flights. Photo: Getty Images.

B737 MAX development in the US

The MAX has been steadily deployed domestically and internationally, based on analyzing schedules information available via Cirium. There are 19,298 take-offs and landings in November, with the type having 2.7% of all flights to, from, and within the US.

Following a handful of round-trips in December 2020 between Miami and LaGuardia, American started to use the recertified machine on multiple routes from its Miami hub, now the USA’s fastest-growing airport. American’s reintroduction of the MAX was followed by United in February and Southwest and Alaska Airlines in March.

B737 MAX US development
International flights have 18% of the total this month. Source of data: Cirium.

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International service began in January

International service has been sluggish, precisely as you’d expect in the current environment. American started it in January from Miami to St Thomas and St. Croix, before quickly deploying the MAX on a slew of routes across the Caribbean and South America. Its longest international route thus far was Miami to Manaus, 2,402 miles (3,865km) away, served earlier in the year.

February also saw Aeromexico use the MAX from Mexico City to Los Angeles and Copa from Panama City to Los Angeles, New York JFK, and San Francisco. Previous analysis by Simple Flying found that the average sector length of all MAX routes worldwide is 1,185 miles, over one-third longer (35%) than the B737-800. Operators benefit from lower fuel consumption – especially during a period of high oil prices – helping route performance.

MAX flights
When writing, all of these MAX 8s and 9s are flying. Randomly highlighted is AA2348 from Washington National to Las Vegas. Image: Radarbox.com.

Domestic US MAX operations this month

This November, there are 15,865 domestic US MAX flights. With more than half (52%) is Southwest, as shown below; hardly a surprise when it has 69 aircraft against United’s 44. Nor is it surprising that Southwest is using its fleet more intensely. While it has three-quarters more MAX flights than United, its fleet is only 57% greater in number.

  • Southwest: 8,172 domestic services across 359 routes; all by the MAX 8
  • United: 4,636; 3,208 by the MAX 9 and 1,428 by the smaller MAX 8; 85 routes
  • American: 2,426; MAX 8; 73 routes
  • Alaska: 631; MAX 9; 10 routes
AA's MAX network Nov 2021AA's MAX network Nov 2021
You can tell how much American’s entire MAX network relies on Miami! This is for November. Image: GCMap.

What’s happening internationally?

18% of the USA’s MAX services this month are international. With 1,600 movements, it is mainly about American, as shown below. Interestingly, some 60% of the carrier’s total MAX services are now international, quite different use than United with none.

  1. American: 1,660 international MAX flights this month
  2. Air Canada: 589
  3. WestJet: 424
  4. Aeromexico: 302
  5. Copa: 200
  6. Icelandair: 133
  7. Flair: 72
  8. Southwest: 44

Los Angeles to Vancouver is the leading international airport-pair, thanks to Air Canada and WestJet. It’s followed by Miami-Mexico City (American), Miami-Quito (American), JFK-Mexico City (Aeromexico), and Miami-Santo Domingo (American).

What are your experiences of flying the MAX? Let us know in the comments.



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