Malindo Air operated the first scheduled commercial flight using a Boeing 737 MAX in 2017.
The Malaysian airline, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Lion Air Group, flew the first passenger service with a 737 MAX 8 from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on 22 May 2017. The aircraft belonged to a new generation of the 737 family and featured more efficient engines, aerodynamic improvements and updated systems.
Malindo Air’s aircraft was delivered before Lion Air, even though Lion Air Group was closely associated with the MAX’s launch. This distinction causes a common mix-up: Lion Air was a major launch customer, but Malindo Air operated the first scheduled passenger flight.
The 737 MAX later became the subject of worldwide safety investigations after the crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 in 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in 2019. The fleet was grounded globally and returned to service only after regulatory reviews and mandated changes.