Boeing 737

The Boeing 737 is an American <a href="/facts/Narrow-body_aircraft/M3WuT6tu">narrow-body</a> aircraft produced by <a href="/facts/Boeing/tF5sMe9F">Boeing</a> at its <a href="/facts/Boeing_Renton_Factory/rsJJX34y">Renton</a> factory in <a href="/facts/Washington_(state)/7tCrTFnN">Washington</a>.
Developed to supplement the <a href="/facts/Boeing_727/54HlSsE2">Boeing 727</a> on short and thin routes, the <a href="/facts/Twinjet/eahpYVVr">twinjet</a> retained the <a href="/facts/Boeing_707/8TgSYe3M">707</a> fuselage width and six abreast seating but with two underwing <a href="/facts/Pratt_%2526_Whitney_JT8D/JeFNcIqn">Pratt & Whitney JT8D</a> low-bypass turbofan engines. Envisioned in 1964, the initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered service in February 1968 with <a href="/facts/Lufthansa/TUsmAkwr">Lufthansa</a>.
The lengthened 737-200 entered service in April 1968, and evolved through four generations, offering several variants for 85 to 215 passengers.
The First Generation 737-100/200 variants were powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofan engines and offered seating for 85 to 130 passengers. Launched in 1980 and introduced in 1984, the Second Generation <a href="/facts/Boeing_737_Classic/JnXMLNlQ">737 Classic</a> -300/400/500 variants were <a href="/facts/Re-engine/IdeNRgwQ">upgraded</a> with more fuel-efficient <a href="/facts/CFM_International_CFM56/XjnMkh66">CFM56-3</a> high-bypass turbofans and offered 110 to 168 seats. Introduced in 1997, the Third Generation <a href="/facts/Boeing_737_Next_Generation/0nldFpua">737 Next Generation</a> (NG) -600/700/800/900 variants have updated <a href="/facts/CFM_International_CFM56/XjnMkh66">CFM56-7</a> high-bypass turbofans, a larger wing and an upgraded <a href="/facts/Glass_cockpit/pmEDaQrF">glass cockpit</a>, and seat 108 to 215 passengers. The latest, and Fourth Generation, the <a href="/facts/Boeing_737_MAX/7WgIXJMh">737 MAX</a> -7/8/9/10 variants, powered by improved <a href="/facts/CFM_LEAP/gU0qvuY6">CFM LEAP</a>-1B high-bypass turbofans and accommodating 138 to 204 people, entered service in 2017.
<a href="/facts/Boeing_Business_Jet/2gvUjgcQ">Boeing Business Jet</a> versions have been produced since the 737NG, as well as military models.
As of May 2025, 16,956 Boeing 737s have been ordered and 12,092 delivered. It was the highest-selling commercial aircraft until being surpassed by the competing <a href="/facts/Airbus_A320_family/tT68Vwuq">Airbus A320 family</a> in October 2019, but maintains the record in total deliveries. Initially, its main competitor was the <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_DC-9/BnJRPl0a">McDonnell Douglas DC-9</a>, followed by its <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_MD-80/XK4Pp83H">MD-80</a>/<a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_MD-90/P977gzIn">MD-90</a> derivatives. In 2013, the global 737 fleet had completed more than 184 million flights over 264 million block hours since its entry into service. The 737 MAX, designed to compete with the <a href="/facts/A320neo/xfFTjHrM">A320neo</a>, was <a href="/facts/Boeing_737_MAX_groundings/8P2cJDxN">grounded worldwide</a> between March 2019 and November 2020 following two fatal crashes.

Boeing 737 open-in-new

Boeing 737