Simple Flying Aviation News Podcast #255: Alaska Airlines Retires World's 1st Boeing 737-900, MEM On The Move! & Other Hot Topics
Apr 10, 2025
Terry Blue, President and CEO of the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority, shares insights on the exciting developments at Memphis International Airport. He discusses the airport's modernization and post-pandemic recovery as a key cargo hub for FedEx. The conversation touches on the historical significance of the Boeing 737-900's retirement by Alaska Airlines and the challenges of modernizing an active facility. A humorous tale about a passenger's emotional support bird adds a light-hearted twist to the serious undertones of airport operations.
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Southwest's Rapid Retrofit Plan
- Southwest Airlines will retrofit its Boeing 737s with new premium seats starting May 1st.
- They plan to complete retrofits on over 800 aircraft by year's end, working on 7 to 10 planes per night.
Legacy of the 737-900 Prototype
- Alaska Airlines retired the original Boeing 737-900 prototype, the first 737-900 ever produced.
- This model lacked extra exits and range, so Boeing developed the more successful 737-900ER variant.
Passenger Denied with Support Parrot
- A Frontier Airlines passenger in Puerto Rico was denied boarding with her emotional support parrot on a flight to New York.
- She was told bringing a large bird was never accepted, despite earlier approval, causing distress and delay.