Southwest Retires Last Legacy ‘Canyon Blue’ 737

The 23-year-old livery was replaced by Southwest’s current paint scheme in 2014.

A Southwest 737-700 in the ‘Canyon Blue’ livery (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

[ Planes ]October 10, 2024 11:08 am ET

By Ryan Ewing

Southwest has gradually retired some of its aging Boeing 737-700s in recent years with plans to remove up to 31 in 2024. The airline updated its livery a decade ago, though just a handful of 737-700s maintained the original “Canyon Blue” colors.

This week, the last aircraft to wear the legacy livery — registered as N786SW — was retired, marking the paint scheme’s demise. The Canyon Blue colors were unveiled in 2001.

In September 2014, the Dallas-based airline moved away from the Canyon Blue livery on its fleet. The carrier unveiled a new livery, which was rolled out on a 737-800 named “Heart One.”

Southwest unveiled its current livery in 2014. (Photo: Stephen M. Keller | Southwest Airlines)

Several of its 737-700s were never painted in the new colors as they were set to be retired.

One Canyon Blue jet remains, but it is a retro livery. Although no 737 MAX 8s were ever originally painted in the colors, Southwest recently repainted one with a retro paint scheme, which is registered as N872CB.

N786SW was ferried to a Birmingham, Alabama, storage facility on Thursday morning.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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