Southwest, a stalwart Boeing 737 MAX customer, eyes other jets

Southwest Airlines, the largest customer of the 737 MAX and long an all-Boeing airline, has proposed new language in the contract with its flight attendants union that would grant it the flexibility "to fly more narrow-body aircraft types."

In a proposal early this month Southwest management told the union, TWU Local 556, in a proposal this month that the ability to operate other aircraft other than the 737 "would give us the flexibility ... to better compete and grow."

"We are flying to more destinations that vary in distance, size and seasonality," the company's proposal states. "This change would allow us to fly aircraft types that are better suited for some of the markets we serve."

The grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX has hit Southwest hard. The airline has 280 of the jets on order, of which 34 were delivered and in passenger service before the grounding.