IATA 738ICAO B738

Boeing 737-800

Boeing

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The world's best-selling commercial jetliner variant.

First flight

1998

Category

Narrow-body jet

Seating

162–189 passengers (typical 162 in two-class, up to 189 in single-class)

Range

5,765 km

Engines

Two CFM International CFM56-7B turbofan engines

Status

In service

The Boeing 737-800 is a member of the 737 Next Generation (737NG) family, offering improved range, fuel efficiency, and passenger capacity over earlier 737 variants. It entered service in 1998 and quickly became one of the most popular narrow-body aircraft in history, serving short- to medium-haul routes worldwide. The aircraft features winglets as a standard option (blended winglets became common from 2001), which reduce fuel burn by improving aerodynamic efficiency. Its reliability, low operating costs, and versatility on routes ranging from domestic to transatlantic missions have made it a staple of both full-service and low-cost carriers. The 737-800 remains in widespread service globally, though Boeing has transitioned production focus to the newer 737 MAX family. Thousands of 737-800s continue to operate daily across virtually every region of the world.

Notable operators

Major operators include Ryanair, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Lion Air, among many others worldwide.

Notable facts

›The 737-800 is the best-selling variant of the 737NG family, with over 4,900 aircraft delivered.
›Blended winglets, introduced as an option, reduce fuel consumption by approximately 3–5%.
›Ryanair is the world's largest operator of the 737-800, operating a nearly all-737-800 fleet.
›The aircraft can carry up to 20,000 kg of maximum payload including cargo.
›Its type certificate is shared with the broader 737NG family, simplifying pilot training and crew certification.