Malindo Air was the first commercial operator of the Boeing 737 MAX, beginning passenger service in 2017.
The Malaysian airline received the first 737 MAX 8 delivered to a customer in May 2017. Its first commercial service with the aircraft took place on 22 May 2017, connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The aircraft was part of Boeing’s updated 737 family, which introduced new engines and aerodynamic improvements.
Malindo Air was closely associated with Indonesia’s Lion Air Group, while its Malaysian operations were based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The airline later adopted the name Batik Air Malaysia, but the 737 MAX’s launch operation is credited to the earlier Malindo Air brand.
This fact is distinct from the first airline to order or receive a conventional 737. The 737 MAX was a later generation, and its first commercial service occurred decades after the original 737 entered airline service. The type was temporarily grounded worldwide in 2019 before returning to service after regulatory reviews and software and training changes.