Plano, Texas – September 17, 2026 -- Boeing and American Airlines have completed the first landing gear exchange for a 737 MAX aircraft, extending a decades-old spare-parts program to Boeing's newest single-aisle platform.
Boeing validates end-to-end gear swap process for the 737 MAX fleet
The exchange delivered a fully overhauled, Boeing-certified main and nose landing gear assembly with installation kits, excluding wheels, tires and brakes. The transaction tested the complete cycle -- technical overhaul, certification paperwork and delivery -- confirming the process can be applied consistently across the MAX fleet.
Program shifts inventory and obsolescence risk away from operators
Under the Landing Gear Exchange Program, Boeing manages technical overhaul, incorporation of applicable service bulletins, certification and supplier coordination, allowing airlines to move away from holding costly spare gear inventories. Operators instead reserve forward-exchange slots, a shift that frees working capital previously tied up in warehoused parts.
"This milestone reinforces what our customers have known for years: Boeing's Landing Gear Exchange capability delivers predictable, safe and cost-effective outcomes," said William Ampofo, senior vice president, Parts & Distribution and Supply Chain, Boeing Global Services.
Boeing expands overhaul capacity and MRO coordination to scale the program
Boeing is increasing global overhaul capacity and coordinating with certified MRO partners to broaden geographic availability and cut lead times. Near-term priorities include enlarging the 737 MAX-capable exchange inventory, adding forward-exchange slots near customer operations, and tracking operational metrics to quantify downtime and cost benefits as the program scales.
The exchange model reduces aircraft-on-ground time by enabling forward exchange of certified assemblies, allowing airlines to avoid lengthy in-place overhauls and the risk of extended groundings.