The Best Places to See Grounded 737 MAX Aircraft

Boeing and the FAA are working swiftly to get the 737 MAX aircraft back in the air after many months of grounding following two fatal crashes.

Airlines which already operated the 737 MAX have been forced to park up their fleets awaiting upgrades and permission to fly again.

Boeing has also been continuing to build the type at a steady rate (with a short period on halt during the Covid-19 outbreak).

All of these aircraft need somewhere to go, so with that in mind we’ve put together this list of the best places to go see Boeing 737 MAX aircaft.

While there are many airlines with 737 MAX aircraft and it’s difficult to list all of the storage locations, there are some airports where you’ll see a lot of them in one place.

Here are our suggestions:

Renton, WA

Naturally, the place where 737 MAXs are built is a good place to see them. The production line is still in operation, and aircraft are being lined up in all available spaces awaiting delivery. At Renton, you’ll see lots of new MAXs coming off the line and being fitted out, tested and stored.

Boeing Field, Seattle, WA

At Boeing Field in Seattle the manufacturer fits out and tests 737 aircraft.

Here you’ll see lots of completed MAX aircraft parked on the parking lots and aprons, awaiting delivery.

You’ll also see some of the active and new aircraft being tested.

Goodyear, AZ

United Airlines has chosen to send all of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to Goodyear in Arizona for storage awaiting future reactivation.

Victorville, CA

Similarly, Southwest Airlines has placed all of its 737 MAX aircraft in storage at the Southern California Logistics Airport at Victorville, some 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles. This is a famous storage airport, but aircraft languishing here have usually had a long life and are now retired.

Moses Lake, WA

Moses Lake Airport in central Washington State is often used for aircraft testing. It is also being used by Boeing as a storage base for undelivered 737 MAX aircraft.

Trois-Rivieres and Winnipeg, Canada

Air Canada has sent many of its 737 MAX fleet to Trois-Rivieres Airport in Quebec, Canada (not far from Montreal).  It also has a number in storage at Winnipeg Airport.

Beijing Capital, China

Air China’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet is in storage in a corner of Beijing Capital Airport. Spotters report they are visible, but it’s difficult to see all of the registrations without exploring.

Manchester, UK

Parked close to the end of runway 23R at Manchester Airport, UK, is the 737 MAX fleet of TUI Airways. They barely entered service with the airline before being parked up. You can usually see them if you’re on a flight landing at Manchester.

Dubai International

Another major operator of the 737 MAX is flydubai which is, naturally, based at Dubai International. Its fleet of aircraft are parked up at Dubai International awaiting their future.

Tulsa, OK

Another major US carrier which operates the 737 MAX is American Airlines. Much of its fleet has been parked up at Tulsa Airport in Oklahoma, where the airline has a maintenance base.

Marana Pinal Airpark

Air Canada 737 MAX at Pinal Airpark. Photo (c) Steve Knight

Around 18 Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are currently stored in the dry desert air at Marana’s Pinal Airpark in Arizona.