Southwest Airlines fleet history Aircraft Introduction Retired Replacement(s) Notes Boeing 727-200 1979 1987 Boeing 737-300 Leased from Braniff International Airways, and People Express Airlines. Boeing 737-200 1971 2005 Boeing 737-700 Southwest's first aircraft type. Boeing 737-300 1984 2017 Boeing 737-700 Boeing 737-800 Boeing 737 MAX 8 Launch customer.