Boeing 737-800

The Boeing 737-800 is a twin-engine, single-aisle airliner and the best-selling member of the 737 Next Generation family. It seats between 162 and 189 passengers and has become the backbone of short- and medium-haul fleets worldwide.

Launched in 1994 and first flown in July 1997, the 737-800 entered service in 1998 with German charter carrier Hapag-Lloyd Flug. Nearly 5,000 were built before Boeing shifted 737 production to the re-engined MAX family.

Development history

Boeing launched the 737 Next Generation program on September 5, 1994, with the 737-800 as its centerpiece variant. The goal was to replace aging 737 Classics and Boeing 727s with a more efficient, longer-range aircraft that could go head to head with the Airbus A320.

The 737-800 rolled out in June 1997 and made its first flight on July 31, 1997. It entered commercial service in April 1998, and quickly became the volume leader of the NG family thanks to its balance of range and capacity.

Production ran for more than two decades, from 1997 until the last 737-800 was delivered in 2020. Nearly 5,000 aircraft were built, making it the most widely produced variant of the 737 Next Generation and one of the best-selling commercial jets ever made.

Design and engineering

Compared with the 737-400 it replaced, the 737-800 has a stretched fuselage, a redesigned wing with a larger area and span, and upgraded systems throughout. Boeing kept the engines mounted under the wing rather than adopting a T-tail layout, which allowed a wider, six-abreast cabin.

The aircraft is 129 feet 6 inches (39.5 m) long, with a fuselage diameter of 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 m). Standard wingspan without winglets is 112 feet 7 inches (34.3 m); aircraft fitted with blended winglets, a common retrofit on many operators’ fleets, span 117 feet 5 inches (35.8 m).

Overall height at the tail is 41 feet 2 inches (12.5 m). Maximum takeoff weight is 174,200 pounds (79,016 kg), and operating empty weight is about 91,300 pounds (41,413 kg).

Cabin and seating

The 737-800 cabin is 3 feet 6 inches (3.54 m) wide and about 7 feet 3 inches (2.2 m) tall, with six-abreast seating and a single center aisle. The cabin itself runs roughly 98 feet 4 inches (29.97 m) from the front to the rear bulkhead.

A typical two-class layout seats 162 passengers, while a high-density single-class configuration holds up to 189. Airlines such as Ryanair, Southwest, American, United, and Delta have all flown the type in dense, all-economy layouts, while carriers like Qantas and WestJet mix in a small business or premium cabin.

The lower-deck cargo hold has a volume of about 1,555 cubic feet (44.1 m³), enough for standard baggage and freight containers on most routes the aircraft flies.

Cockpit and avionics

The 737-800 is flown by a two-pilot crew from a glass cockpit built around Rockwell Collins avionics. Large electronic displays replaced the electromechanical gauges of earlier 737 generations, cutting workload and improving situational awareness.

The flight deck architecture is common across the entire Next Generation family, so pilots typically hold a single type rating that covers the 737-600 through the 737-900ER. That commonality is one reason the 737-800 has remained so cheap to operate for large fleets.

Engines and performance

Two CFM International CFM56-7B27 turbofans power the 737-800, each rated at 27,300 pounds-force of thrust. The engines sit in underwing nacelles and are fully interchangeable between the left and right positions.

Top speed is Mach 0.82, and normal long-range cruise is about 452 knots (520 mph, 837 km/h) at 39,000 feet. Service ceiling is 41,000 feet, and initial rate of climb is roughly 1,800 feet per minute at typical operating weights.

Range is about 2,935 nautical miles (3,378 miles, 5,436 km) with a full passenger load, enough to cover most domestic and regional international routes without refueling. The aircraft needs about 7,598 feet (2,316 m) of runway to take off at maximum weight and roughly 5,200 feet (1,600 m) to land.

Who flies the Boeing 737-800

The 737-800 is one of the most common airliners in the sky, flown by hundreds of carriers worldwide. Major operators include American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, Qantas, and WestJet, among many others.

Its combination of range, capacity, and low operating cost made it the default narrowbody for both full-service airlines and low-cost carriers for more than two decades. Many of these operators are now transitioning to the 737-8, the direct successor covered in AeroCorner’s Boeing 737 MAX explainer, but the 737-800 still makes up a large share of active narrowbody fleets.

Successor and competitors

Boeing replaced the 737-800 in production with the 737-8, part of the re-engined 737 MAX family that carries over most of the 737-800’s fuselage and cabin while adding new engines and wingtips for better fuel efficiency.

The 737-800’s direct market rival throughout its production run was the Airbus A320, and the two aircraft have competed head to head for narrowbody orders since the 1990s. Both remain in widespread service today, though current production has shifted to their respective re-engined successors.

Safety record

The 737-800 has an extensive service history spanning more than two decades and tens of millions of flights, with a strong overall safety record for the size of its fleet. Like any widely flown airliner, it has been involved in a small number of serious accidents.

The best known is Turkish Airlines Flight 1951, which crashed short of the runway at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on February 25, 2009. A faulty radio altimeter caused the autothrottle to cut power on approach, and the crew did not catch the drop in time to recover. Nine of the 135 people on board were killed and about 120 were injured.

More recently, Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea on December 29, 2024, after a bird strike disabled the landing gear during a go-around. The aircraft belly-landed beyond the normal touchdown zone and struck a structure beyond the runway, killing 179 of the 181 people on board.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to fly on a Boeing 737-800?

Yes. The 737-800 has flown for more than two decades with a strong overall safety record given the size of its fleet. It should not be confused with the separate 737 MAX, which had its own distinct safety issues tied to a different flight control system.

Is the 737-800 a good plane?

It is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and cost-effective narrowbody airliners ever built. Its long production run and huge fleet size reflect strong demand from both full-service and low-cost carriers.

Where is the best seat on a Boeing 737-800?

Seats just behind the wing typically offer the smoothest ride, while exit-row and bulkhead seats give the most legroom. The exact best seat depends on each airline’s specific cabin layout, since configurations vary between operators.

Have any Boeing 737-800s crashed?

Yes, though serious accidents are rare relative to the size of the fleet. The two most significant are Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 in 2009 and Jeju Air Flight 2216 in 2024, both detailed above.

How much does a Boeing 737-800 cost?

Boeing’s last published list price for a new 737-800, before production ended in 2020, was about 106 million dollars. Airlines typically paid less than list price through fleet discounts, and used aircraft now trade well below that figure.

What is the difference between the 737-700 and 737-800?

The 737-800 is a stretched version of the 737-700, with a longer fuselage that seats more passengers and carries more cargo. Both share the same wing, engines, and cockpit, and pilots can fly either under a common type rating.