Allegiant Air's first Boeing 737 MAX could be flying passengers by year's end

12.09.2024 - 14:33 / thepointsguy.com / Orlando Sanford

Allegiant Air hopes to introduce its first Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 in November after more than a year of delays, CEO Gregory Anderson said Tuesday.

The Las Vegas-based discounter took delivery of its first 190-seat MAX (registration N811NV) at Boeing Field south of Seattle on Sept. 9. The plane then flew to Allegiant's base at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) where "ditching exercises" are underway as part of the standard steps to familiarize staff with the new plane, Anderson said on the sidelines of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Global Aerospace Summit in Washington, D.C.

The first MAX could enter passenger service in November on flights from either Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) or St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), Anderson said. He noted that the plane's debut is subject to the completion of proving runs with staff and final sign-off by the Federal Aviation Administration.

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"I would expect we have four, at least, in service by the end of this year," Anderson added, by which he means in time for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Eventually, when the airline's fleet of MAX aircraft hits a critical mass, Allegiant plans to separate the 737s from its Airbus A320-family planes into different bases for operational efficiency. For example, all flights to and from St. Pete-Clearwater might be on a 737, while all flights at Orlando Sanford could be operated with A320s.

The MAX is Allegiant's first new aircraft type since it flew its first A320-family jet in 2013. The airline flew 88 A320s and 34 A319s at the end of June.

The 737 is key to Allegiant's growth plans in the coming years and critical to its current effort to boost margins, which have fallen below historic norms. The carrier has roughly 100 pilots trained for the MAX who are on its payroll but not flying, Anderson said, which is one of several financial headwinds it faces.

"We're planning on, right now, about one [MAX] per month in '25," Anderson said of the airline's future delivery plans. That could see Allegiant operating at least 16 737 MAX by the end of next year.

The airline is still in talks with Boeing to finalize the delivery schedule.

Allegiant ordered 50 737 MAX, split evenly between the 7 and 8-200, plus 50 options in early 2022. The first aircraft was due in 2023 but, with Boeing's various production issues and supply chain bottlenecks, the date was delayed several times into this year.

Since the initial order, Allegiant has swapped five 7s for the larger 8-200 — for a total of 30 of the latter plane — and added 30 more MAX options to its order book.

Allegiant's first MAX planes will