Boeing 737 Max 9

Twin Jet· 53 globally registered

The Boeing 737 MAX 9 represents the stretched member of Boeing's controversial but now operationally mature fourth-generation narrowbody family, seating 178 to 220 passengers depending on configuration. Launched in 2016 and entering service with Lion Air in 2018, the MAX 9 was grounded worldwide alongside its siblings following two fatal accidents, returning to service in late 2020 after extensive software and training revisions to its MCAS flight control system. The type competes directly with the Airbus A321neo on longer thin routes, offering a 3,550-nautical-mile range that enables transcon and transatlantic missions previously reserved for widebodies. Powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines producing 28,000 pounds of thrust each, the MAX 9 burns roughly 14 percent less fuel per seat than the 737-900ER it replaces, thanks to advanced winglets, a redesigned tail cone, and engine efficiency gains. The aircraft cruises at Mach 0.79, climbs to a service ceiling of 41,000 feet, and operates from runways as short as 7,900 feet at maximum weight. United Airlines became the type's largest operator, using the MAX 9 as a backbone for its domestic and near-international network, while Alaska Airlines deployed it on West Coast routes before a January 2024 door-plug blowout temporarily grounded the U.S. fleet for inspections. Despite its troubled entry into service, the MAX 9 has matured into a reliable workhorse for airlines seeking range and efficiency in the 180-seat segment. SkyMeter has tracked 4,471 flights across 331 airframes and 16 operators, with UNITED AIRLINES INC the largest observed operator.