Southwest in talks for up to 30 Boeing Max jets that lost buyers

Southwest is in advanced talks with Boeing and aircraft lessors to acquire as many as thirty 737 Max “white tails,” or new jets that have lost their original buyers, said people familiar with the matter. Any of the aircraft that Southwest accepts from storage at Boeing would replace a similar number of the 249 planes that the airline has already ordered, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are confidential. In other words, the largest Max customer isn’t looking to pad its order book amid a market depressed by the coronavirus pandemic. The discussions are part of a broader push by Boeing to reap cash from its best-selling jet, which has been grounded since March 2019 after two fatal crashes. The strapped planemaker has also approached United, Alaska Air Group and Delta about taking some of the planes that lack buyers, the people said. Of the 450 or so Max built during the flying ban, nearly a quarter are white tails, one of the people said. While pandemic-battered carriers aren’t eager to add new jets, those able to strike deals now would gain advantageous terms for models that will lower fuel and maintenance costs ahead of the eventual rebound in commercial flying. “Although we have nothing new to share today regarding fleet plans, we’ve publicly shared that Southwest is currently working with Boeing to refresh our order book,” the airline said. The company declined further comment. Boeing declined to comment, as did United and Delta. Alaska said only that it continues to track the Max’s regulatory certification process closely while maintaining contact with manufacturers. <br/>