Which Boeing 737 MAX variants have the most orders & why?

The Boeing 737 Max family, which entered service eight years ago, was designed to be the latest and most advanced version of the Boeing 737 family, the most successful commercial aircraft of all time.

The aircraft was designed in four different variants (with one notable subvariant), each of which served its own unique purpose and targeted a specific market.

Despite a pair of deadly crashes and a highly-publicized incident involving a door plug blowing out on an Alaska Airlines flight, the family still has a massive order backlog for thousands of jets.

By the end of 2024, US-based planemaker Boeing had delivered 1,680 MAX jets, and an order backlog for over 4,700 MAX family aircraft still remains.

Despite its challenges and problematic safety record, passenger airlines continue to stand by their purchase orders for the massive aircraft, which will seamlessly fit into their fleets.

The jet is still set to be one of the most widely-used models of all time, with only the Airbus A320neo family projected to prove more popular among operators in the 2020s.

The four variants of the MAX family each have their own purpose, and, as a result, each has achieved a different level of success in the market, with some variants accounting for the bulk of the company's sales, while others have not seen remotely the same sales performance.

Previously, Boeing had been very careful to conceal data related to the sales of each of its 737 MAX family models. However, most of these numbers have since been released.

In this article, we will take a deeper look at the Boeing 737 MAX family variants and which ones have sold the best. Furthermore, we will attempt to identify the root causes of the statistical discrepancies between these figures.

Before analyzing the sales of each different 737 MAX variant, it is important to take a deeper look at each one and the purpose it serves. The smallest of these variants is the Boeing 737 MAX 7, which is derived from the Boeing 737-700 of the Boeing 737 Next Generation series.

The aircraft can seat 138 passengers in an all-economy configuration and offers a longer range and 18% lower fuel costs over its predecessor.

The 737 MAX 7 has yet to enter service and is currently expected to receive certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this year, with deliveries currently slated to begin next year.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is designed to replace the 737-800 of the Boeing 737 Next Generation family, which is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft to ever take to the skies.

With a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles and significantly improved fuel efficiency over its predecessor, the aircraft was designed to be the linchpin of the 737 MAX family.

The aircraft entered commercial service with Malindo Air before the pandemic and models are currently priced at over $50 million.

Boeing also produces a subvariant of the 737 MAX 8 which is dubbed the 737 MAX 200 (often stylized as the 737 MAX 8-200), which offers higher-capacity seating for up to 200 passengers in a single-class configuration.

This variant was designed to appeal to low-cost carriers, as it could offer 20% lower costs per seat. The aircraft was certified in 2021 and launched into service with the ultra-low-cost carrier Ryanair.

It features slimline seats and an additional set of exit doors, allowing it to safely accommodate the higher passenger capacity.

The second-largest variant of the family, the 737 MAX 9, was designed to replace the 737-900 with a longer fuselage and an improved range of up to 3,600 nautical miles. The aircraft first took to the skies in 2017 and deliveries to Lion Air began the next year.

The aircraft was designed to compete directly with the Airbus A321neo, and provides unparalleled efficiency on short-haul routes.

As one would expect, the two variants which have yet to be certified (the 737 MAX 7 and the 737 MAX 10) have the lowest portion of the orders. For starters, most of this can be attributed to the fact that these jets have yet to even be certified and prove themselves in the market.

The only airlines which have committed to orders for these models are those which are 100% sure they are going to use the jets, as opposed to purchasing competitor aircraft.

According to Epsilon Aviation, the smallest variant of the family, the 737 MAX 7, only accounts for 7% of all orders for the MAX. The vast majority of the order backlog for this variant comes from US-based low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines, which placed a massive order for over 340 737 MAX 7 jets.

The airline has historically been one of the largest and most important operators of the Boeing 737-700 family, meaning that this jet will serve as a natural replacement.

While the 737 MAX 7 may be perfect for Southwest, relatively few other carriers are interested in the model. Its capacity is a bit too small for most carriers' liking, and it boasts weaker fuel efficiency and per-seat operating costs in comparison to other variants.

However, as Southwest has built its route network around the 737-700 model, it is unsurprising to see them deeply committed to the variant.

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 accounts for a little more than 10% of the family's total orders, with a backlog of 810 units that could only grow more once the aircraft is properly certified, according to FlightGlobal.

Nearly one-fifth of these orders come from Irish low-cost giant Ryanair, which has been quick to support this high-capacity model. For budget airlines looking to add capacity, but not wanting to train their pilots on a model that is not in the 737 family, the aircraft can be an appealing choice, despite its relatively weakness against competitors like the Airbus A321neo.

The mid-size variants in the family are by far the most commercially successful, with more than 70% of the family's order book coming from just these two models. It is important to note that this variant is the most fuel efficient and offers the lowest costs on a per-passenger basis.

It also replaces the 737-800, one of the most successful Boeing jets ever produced. As a result, many airlines have a strong interest in purchasing the dynamic aircraft.

While its success may have been hindered by early crashes, the aircraft is still selling well. Just back in November, the Avia Solution Group ordered up to 80 737 MAX 8 jets, according to manufacturer documents.

Despite early popularity and the fact that the aircraft is already in service, customer excitement has mostly shifted away from the 737 MAX 9. Some of this can likely be attributed to the Alaska Airlines door plug incident last year, which may have encouraged some operators away from the model.

However, production delays and heavy competition from the Airbus A321neo have likely been the bigger reasons why this aircraft has failed to rise to the top of the manufacturer's order book.