Where Southwest Airlines' Boeing 737 MAXs Are Flying The Most

Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 737 MAX, having taken delivery of its first 737 MAX 8 in 2017. Today, the low-cost carrier deploys its fleet of more than 270 737 MAX aircraft on a wide variety of routes across North and Central America, but which of these routes will see the most 737 MAX flights in 2025?

In this article, we will use data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, to establish the routes on which Southwest Airlines will deploy the most Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2025. We will also consider the role of the 737 MAX in both the low-cost carrier’s fleet and the wider commercial aviation industry.

Hawaii Sees The Most Boeing 737 MAX Flights

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The US state with some of Southwest Airlines’ busiest Boeing 737 MAX routes throughout 2025 is Hawaii. The carrier has established a solid presence in Hawaii since entering the market in March 2019, when it began service to the likes of Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Kahului Airport (OGG), and Lihue Airport (LIH).

From the US mainland, Southwest Airlines flies to Hawaii from multiple gateway airports, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Diego International Airport (SAN), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). The carrier also operates several interisland routes.

Over the years, Southwest Airlines has grown into Hawaii’s second-largest carrier, capturing around 16 % of the total market and carrying over three million passengers in 2024, and in a sign of its commitment to the market, the airline even introduced a special Hawaii-themed livery on one of its Boeing 737 MAX 8s, named Imua One, and is currently considering opening its first lounge in the state.

When it comes to the Hawaii services operated by Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the busiest in terms of the number of flights is from Kahului Airport (OGG) to Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). In 2025, this route will see a total of 3,154 flights, averaging between eight and nine per day.

Las Vegas — One Of Southwest Airlines’ Largest Boeing 737 MAX Hubs

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Many of Southwest Airlines’ busiest Boeing 737 MAX routes, when measured by the number of flights scheduled in 2025, operate to or from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). This is perhaps unsurprising, given that the carrier is the largest operator at the Nevada airport, commanding a 40% market share, which puts it significantly ahead of Spirit Airlines with 15% and Delta Air Lines with 9%.

From Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, Southwest Airlines flies to more than 70 destinations across North America, many of which see regular Boeing 737 MAX services. The carrier’s busiest 737 MAX routes touching Las Vegas in 2025 are to/from San Jose International Airport (SJC), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). These four routes will see a total of 1,543, 1,482, 1,481, and 1,467 flights operated by the 737 MAX in 2025, respectively.

Southwest Airlines recently announced a number of new routes from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport to destinations across Mexico, including to Cancún International Airport (CUN), Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), and Puerto Vallarta Licenciado Díaz Ordaz Gustavo International Airport (PVR).

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The Longest Boeing 737 MAX Routes With More Than 1,000 Frequencies

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Southwest Airlines operates a growing number of routes with more than 1,000 flights scheduled with the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2025. The longest of these is from Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), coming in at 2,106 miles.

The table below shows the five longest Boeing 737 MAX routes operated by Southwest Airlines more than 1,000 times in 2025:

Southwest Airlines & The Boeing 737 MAX

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Southwest Airlines has long built its business around a single aircraft family, and the Boeing 737 series is central to that strategy. With the arrival of the Boeing 737 MAX in 2017, the carrier took the opportunity to modernize its fleet, boost efficiency, and keep its hallmark simplicity.

The latest data from ch-aviation shows that today, Southwest Airlines operates a total of 273 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, all of which are the 737 MAX 8 variant. The carrier also has a further 196 737 MAX 8s on order, in addition to 314 of the smaller 737 MAX 7. The 737 MAX 7 is yet to receive certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but is expected to enter commercial service in 2026. Each of Southwest Airlines’ 737 MAX 8s can carry up to a maximum of 175 passengers in an all-economy class configuration, while the carrier’s 737 MAX 7s are expected to accommodate up to 150 passengers each.

For Southwest Airlines, the appeal of the Boeing 737 MAX is clear — the family of aircraft offers better fuel efficiency and improved environmental performance compared to older aircraft. This means that, despite the challenges associated with the 737 MAX program over the years, the carrier remains committed to its all-Boeing 737 identity, and the 737 MAX forms the backbone of its future fleet plans.

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Southwest Airlines’ 10 Busiest Boeing 737 MAX Routes

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Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 737 MAX. The ten routes on which the carrier deploys the most 737 MAX aircraft in 2025 are summarized in the table below:

The Turbulent Story Of The Boeing 737 MAX

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The Boeing 737 MAX is the latest generation of Boeing’s long-running 737 family, designed to offer greater efficiency, range, and comfort while keeping the familiar qualities that have made the 737 one of the world’s most popular aircraft. Launched in 2011, the 737 MAX family includes several variants – the 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9, and 737 MAX 10 – each built to serve different market needs. The most common model in airline fleets today is the MAX 8, capable of carrying around 175 passengers and flying up to 3,500 miles.

A key improvement in the Boeing 737 MAX series comes from its engines. The aircraft’s CFM LEAP-1B engines are larger and more fuel-efficient than those on earlier 737 Next Generation aircraft, helping it to burn roughly 14% less fuel. Combined with aerodynamic changes like advanced split-tip winglets and a quieter cabin, the 737 MAX was developed to appeal to airlines looking for lower operating costs and passengers looking for a more comfortable ride.

However, the aircraft’s journey has not been without turbulence, namely with two fatal crashes early in its operating history. In 2018, Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the sea while en route from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) to Depati Amir Airport (DPK), killing all 189 passengers and crew members onboard. Then, just five months later, in March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed just six minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), bound for Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). All 157 people onboard the aircraft were killed.

As a result of these two crashes, the entire Boeing 737 MAX fleet was grounded worldwide for nearly two years while the US manufacturer reworked the aircraft’s flight control systems and pilot training procedures. The 737 MAX gradually began to return to commercial service in late 2020, following extensive testing and regulatory approval. Despite its troubled start, the Boeing 737 MAX remains central to Boeing’s narrow-body lineup, and the aircraft’s balance of range, fuel savings, and passenger capacity positions it as a direct competitor to the Airbus A320neo family.