[Trdfly]

Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field) says it has revised plans to complete the retirement of its fleet of B737-300s from 2018 to the third quarter of 2017.

The Texan LCC said in a quarterly earnings report that the removal of the type would simplify its operations and 'resolve uncertainty surrounding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot training requirements for flying both the B737 Classic and B737 MAX 8 aircraft.'

"Given the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not expected to complete training requirements until next year, the only solution now is to avoid flying both the Classics and the MAX," Southwest said. "Therefore, the Classics will be retired in 2017 prior to the MAX being placed into revenue service. Indeed, this is a viable and manageable solution, although not preferred. This accelerated retirement of the Classics will result in fewer aircraft and lower available seat mile (capacity) growth in 2017 than previously planned."

Southwest's B737 Classic fleet currently consists of 116 B737-300s and eleven B737-500s. The B737-500s are scheduled to be withdrawn from revenue service in September of this year.

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/ne...sic-retirement