Airline Liveries
The workhorse of short-haul aviation and the most delivered jet airliner in history. Part of the 737 Next Generation family, it serves as the backbone of many airline fleets worldwide for domestic and short international routes.
Passengers
162-189
Range
3,383 mi
Cruise Speed
523 mph
First Flight
1997
Did You Know?
The 737-800 is the best-selling variant of the 737 family with over 5,200 aircraft ordered, making it the most delivered jet airliner in history.
History & Timeline
Key Milestones
First Flight
On April 9, 1967, the first Boeing 737 took flight from Boeing Field in Seattle. Pilots Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick flew the aircraft for just under two hours. The flight was smooth, but no one could have predicted the aircraft would still be in production nearly 60 years later.
Lufthansa Launches Service
On February 10, 1968, Lufthansa became the first airline to operate the 737 commercially. It was the first time a non-American carrier launched a new Boeing aircraft type into service.
Next Generation Arrives
The 737 Next Generation (737-600/700/800/900) entered service in 1997, featuring new engines, redesigned wings, and a modern glass cockpit. The -800 variant would become the best-selling jet airliner variant in history, with over 5,200 ordered.
Development Story
The Baby Boeing
In 1964, Boeing was losing the short-haul market to the Douglas DC-9 and BAC 111. Designers Joe Sutter and Jack Steiner proposed a small twinjet that would bring "big-jet comfort to short-haul routes." Management was skeptical—Boeing had never built anything this small—but the numbers were compelling.
Lufthansa Takes a Chance
On February 19, 1965, Lufthansa became the 737's launch customer with an order for 21 aircraft—the first time a non-American airline launched a Boeing aircraft. Lufthansa's input was crucial: they convinced Boeing to increase seating from 60-85 to 100 passengers, fundamentally changing the aircraft's economics.
The Plane That Almost Wasn't
The original 737-100 was a commercial disappointment—only 30 were ever built, almost exclusively for Lufthansa. The program was saved when United Airlines ordered a stretched version, the 737-200. That longer fuselage became the foundation for the most successful jet airliner family in history.
Records & Achievements
10,000th 737 Delivered
In March 2018, Boeing delivered the 10,000th 737, a MAX 8 to Southwest Airlines. No other commercial jet family has come close to this production milestone. The 737 has carried an estimated 12 billion passengers—more than any other aircraft in history.
2018Legacy & Impact
The Workhorse of Aviation
The 737 is the best-selling commercial jet aircraft in history. More than one in three airline passengers worldwide fly on a 737. Its combination of reliability, economics, and versatility made it the backbone of low-cost carriers and legacy airlines alike.
Technical Specifications
Performance
- Range
- 5,445 km (3,383 mi)
- Cruise Speed
- 842 km/h (523 mph)
- Service Ceiling
- 12,497 m (41,001 ft)
Dimensions
- Length
- 39.5 m (130 ft)
- Wingspan
- 34.3 m (113 ft)
Capacity
- Passengers
- 162-189
- Cargo Volume
- 45 m³
Engines
- Engine Count
- 2x CFM56-7B
- Manufacturer
- CFM International
- Thrust (each)
- 121.4 kN
Weights
- Max Takeoff (MTOW)
- 79,010 kg (174,187 lbs)
- Fuel Capacity
- 26,020 L (6,874 gal)
Takeoff / Landing
- Takeoff Distance
- 1,790 m (5,873 ft)
- Landing Distance
- 1,600 m (5,249 ft)
Commercial
- Total Orders
- 4,989
- Delivered
- 4,989
- List Price
- $106.1M
History
- First Flight
- January 1, 1997
- Status
- Out of Production
Related Variants
Airlines Operating This Aircraft
American Airlines
Workhorse of domestic fleet
Southwest Airlines
Medium-haul routes
United Airlines
Domestic workhorse
Delta Air Lines
Domestic routes
WestJet
Legacy fleet
Alaska Airlines
Domestic routes
Turkish Airlines
Legacy fleet
Copa Airlines
Legacy workhorse
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Being replaced
Qantas
Domestic
Japan Airlines
Short-haul
Aeromexico
Regional
All Nippon Airways
Short-haul
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
European
El Al Israel Airlines
Short-haul
China Airlines
Regional
More from Boeing
Sources
Data compiled from the following sources:
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D
Wikipedia - Boeing 737 NG
MTOW 174,200 lb (79,010 kg)
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D
SKYbrary - B738
Ceiling: 41,000 ft (FL410)
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D
Flugzeuginfo
FAA/EASA takeoff runway at MTOW: 5,875 ft (1,790m)
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D
Wikipedia - Boeing 737 NG Orders
Most successful 737 NG variant
M Manufacturer D Aviation Database N News