The USA’s First Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 Is Nearing Delivery With Allegiant

The delivery of Allegiant Air’s first Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 is finally on the horizon, marking a significant shift from the airline’s reliance on Airbus aircraft. Allegiant, which originally placed an order for 50 737 MAX aircraft in January 2022, including 26 MAX 8-200s, expects the first planes to be delivered by this fall.

This high-density 737 model, seating a maximum of 210 passengers, will increase capacity on key routes compared to Allegiant’s current Airbus A319s and A320s. The aircraft will eventually be deployed on over 50 routes to more than 40 US cities, primarily from Florida airports. Allegiant’s move to integrate Boeing aircraft represents a strategic diversification in its fleet composition.

Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air is an ultra-low-cost carrier founded in 1997 as WestJet Express. After losing a trademark dispute with WestJet Air Center in 1998 and subsequently acknowledging the similarity of the new airline’s name to Canadian carrier WestJet Airlines, the founders adopted the name Allegiant Air.

In June 1998, Allegiant Air was certified for charter and domestic operations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Department of Transportation (DOT). Allegiant is also certified to operate domestic and charter flights in Canada and Mexico. Currently, Allegiant is the 14th-largest carrier in North America.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

The Allegiant Air fleet

In the past, Allegiant Air has operated a variety of aircraft. These former fleet members include the Boeing 757, McDonnell Douglas DC-9, and 64 aircraft from the MD-80 family.

Currently, Allegiant Air’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft. According to data from ch-aviation, Allegiant has 33 active Airbus A319-100s and 86 active A320-200s. In recent years, however, Allegiant has decided to expand its fleet and operate Boeing aircraft for the first time since 2017.

The path to Boeing aircraft

In January 2022, Allegiant Air announced its deal with Boeing for the purchase of 50 737 MAX aircraft. This initial order consisted of 24 737 MAX 7s and 26 737 MAX 8-200s, with options for an additional 50 aircraft.

The inclusion of the MAX 8-200 is significant, as Allegiant is the only US airline with an order for the aircraft type. This upgraded model of the infamous 737 MAX was designed to appeal to low-cost airlines and features increased seating capacity and improved efficiency.

Allegiant representatives expressed excitement about the addition of the new Boeing aircraft, which shows a marked change from the airline’s traditional model of relying on cheaper second-hand aircraft. Per FlightGlobal, Allegiant commented on its anticipated order, saying:

According to Reuters, the original plan was for ten aircraft to be delivered to Allegiant in 2023, 24 in 2024, and 16 in 2025. However, as Boeing dealt with the backlash from incidents involving active 737 MAX 8s, the Allegiant order was delayed.

In response to this altered delivery schedule, Allegiant amended its January 2022 deal in October of 2023. The airline added options for 30 additional 737 MAX aircraft and changed the mix of aircraft types in its order. The airline made a statement about the change, as reported by Airways Magazine:

“The amended agreements reflect a revised delivery schedule with the first delivery due under the amendment in late 2023 and the delivery schedule for the initial 50 aircraft to now extend through late 2025.”

In response to the revised delivery timeline, Allegiant also modified its plans for retiring some of its older aircraft, such as its A320-200s. The airline reactivated a few of these aircraft for the busy summer season and extended the life of these Airbuses in its fleet to the end of 2025.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

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Coming soon?

The long wait for the new Boeing aircraft may finally be coming to an end, as Allegiant hopes to receive some of its 737 MAXs by this fall. Although the original order slotted 24 MAX aircraft to be delivered in 2024, the president of Allegiant Air said the airline expects an order closer to 12 aircraft.

According to ch-aviation, four 737 MAX 8-200s have delivery dates for the fall (two in October and two in November). Additional aircraft are expected to be delivered this year, although no official dates have yet been confirmed.

Allegiant Air’s 737 MAX 8-200s

The MAX 8-200 is considered a high-density version of the MAX 8, as its additional seating and exits allow for larger passenger loads. Allegiant Air’s 737 MAX 8-200s, which will eventually replace some of the airline’s older Airbus aircraft, will provide additional passenger capacity on its routes.

According to Boeing, the MAX 8-200 has a maximum capacity of 210 seats, although most configurations accommodate around 178 passengers. Allegiant’s MAX 8-200s will have 190 seats, including 21 premium (Allegiant Extra) seats. Compared to Allegiant’s current A319s (offering 156 seats) and A320s (with 177-186 seats), the new Boeing aircraft will notably increase the airline’s passenger capacity on key routes.

MAX 8-200 routes

Although Allegiant is still waiting for its 737 MAXs, the airline has already released the scheduled routes on which it plans to operate the aircraft. Many of these routes are currently operated by Allegiant’s fleet of Airbus A319s and A320s.

According to Aeroroutes, Allegiant plans to use its new 737 MAX 8-200s on over 50 routes to more than 40 US cities. These flights will be primarily operated from three Florida airports:

• Orlando Sanford (SFB)
• St. Petersburg/Clearwater (PIE)
• Punta Gorda (PGD)

Per Ishrion Aviation, the first routes planned for Allegiant’s new Boeing aircraft are from SFB. These flights are currently scheduled to begin in October.

Other airlines operating the 737 MAX 8-200

While Allegiant Air will break ground as the first US airline to operate the 737 MAX 8-200, other airlines across the globe are already flying the aircraft or will begin to do so shortly. Ryanair, the aircraft’s launch customer, received its first MAX 8-200s on June 16, 2021, and operated its first commercial flight to London Stansted (STN) on June 23.

According to ch-aviation, Ryanair currently operates 99 MAX 8-200s on its mainline fleet, with an additional 56 aircraft operated by its subsidiaries, Malta Air and Buzz (Poland). Other airlines with active orders for 737 MAX 8-200s include Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air, Caribbean startup Arajet, and Vietnam-based Vietjet Air.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

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Analysis: The Airlines That Have Ordered The High-Density Boeing 737 MAX 8-200

So far, a total of ten passenger carriers have ordered the aircraft.

Despite the long journey towards acquiring its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Allegiant Air has remained positive and confident that their patience will be rewarded. Allegiant President Greg Anderson is reported by Reuters as saying:

While this might be a case of “I’ll believe it when I see it” for many, the overall consensus is that at least some of the Boeing aircraft will be in Allegiant’s possession by the end of 2024. If the past few years have been any indication of the airline’s commitment to acquiring the aircraft, Allegiant Air is sure to hold out and make history by the end of this year as the first US carrier to operate the 737 MAX 8-200.