Common aircraft types: Specs, range and ICAO codes

The jets and turboprops you see on the live map, with the numbers behind them.

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Boeing (14)Airbus (13)Embraer (2)

B737 Boeing 737-700 Boeing · 126–149 passengers B738 Boeing 737-800 Boeing · 162–189 passengers B739 Boeing 737-900ER Boeing · 178–220 passengers B38M Boeing 737 MAX 8 Boeing · 162–210 passengers B744 Boeing 747-400 Boeing · 416–524 passengers B748 Boeing 747-8 Boeing · 410–467 passengers B752 Boeing 757-200 Boeing · 180–239 passengers B763 Boeing 767-300ER Boeing · 218–290 passengers B772 Boeing 777-200ER Boeing · 301–440 passengers B77W Boeing 777-300ER Boeing · 365–450 passengers B77L Boeing 777F Boeing · 103 tonnes cargo B788 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Boeing · 242–248 passengers B789 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Boeing · 290–296 passengers B78X Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Boeing · 330–336 passengers A319 Airbus A319 Airbus · 124–156 passengers A320 Airbus A320 Airbus · 150–186 passengers A20N Airbus A320neo Airbus · 150–194 passengers A321 Airbus A321 Airbus · 185–230 passengers A21N Airbus A321neo Airbus · 180–244 passengers A332 Airbus A330-200 Airbus · 246–290 passengers A333 Airbus A330-300 Airbus · 277–440 passengers A339 Airbus A330-900neo Airbus · 260–300 passengers A346 Airbus A340-600 Airbus · 326–475 passengers A359 Airbus A350-900 Airbus · 300–350 passengers A35K Airbus A350-1000 Airbus · 350–410 passengers A388 Airbus A380-800 Airbus · 525–853 passengers E175 Embraer E175 Embraer · 76–88 passengers E190 Embraer E190 Embraer · 96–114 passengers CRJ9 Bombardier CRJ900 Bombardier · 76–90 passengers AT76 ATR 72-600 ATR · 68–78 passengers DH8D De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 De Havilland Canada · 74–90 passengers BCS3 Airbus A220-300 Airbus · 130–160 passengers

Those four-character codes, decoded

Every card above shows an ICAO type code. It is the shorthand used in flight plans and on radar, and our aircraft guide hub explains where it comes from. A few you will see often:

  • B738 is a Boeing 737-800, the most common jet in the sky.
  • A20N is an Airbus A320neo. The N stands for "new engine option."
  • B77W is a Boeing 777-300ER, a long-haul workhorse.

It is the same code you see when you click a plane on the live map. Spot a type, look it up here, and you know what flew over you. Our guide on identifying aircraft overhead explains the rest.

The four families you'll actually see

  • Narrowbody workhorses - The A320 and 737 families fly more flights than everything else combined; if you glance up at a random contrail, odds are it's one of these. See narrowbody vs widebody.
  • Long-haul widebodies - 787s, A350s, 777s and the last A380s carry the intercontinental network, cruising in the 30–40,000 ft band you can watch fill up on the statistics page.
  • Regionals - E175s, CRJ900s, ATR 72s and Dash 8s connect small cities to the hubs, usually below 25,000 ft on shorter hops.
  • Freighters - 747-8Fs, 777Fs and converted passenger jets that own the night sky; the cargo airline guide explains their midnight rhythm.

Five icons, side by side

TypeCodePassengersRangeYou'll see it on
Boeing 737-800B738162–1895,765 kmShort-haul everywhere; Ryanair's entire fleet
Airbus A320neoA20N150–1866,300 kmShort-haul everywhere; quieter, newer cabins
Boeing 787-9B789~29014,010 kmThin long-haul routes, 16-hour ultra-flights
Airbus A350-900A359~31515,000 kmFlagship long-haul; the world's longest routes
Airbus A380-800A388~52514,800 kmMega-hubs only: Dubai, London, Singapore

Spotting tip

Can't tell an A320 from a 737 at altitude? Check the nose and the tail cone - The guide to telling Boeing and Airbus apart gives you five reliable tells, and the gear guide covers what binoculars actually help.

Frequently asked questions

What is an ICAO aircraft type code?

It is the short designator the aviation world uses for an aircraft model in flight plans and on radar, such as B738 for a Boeing 737-800 or A20N for an Airbus A320neo. It is the same code shown when you click an aircraft on the live map.

Why do some types have several codes?

Each major variant gets its own designator: the 737-800 is B738, the MAX 8 is B38M, and the A320neo is A20N even though they look nearly identical from the ground. The codes track certification differences, not looks.

How can I tell a Boeing from an Airbus?

The quickest tells are the nose and the flight-deck windows. Boeing noses are more pointed with an angled windscreen, while Airbus noses are rounder with a more upright windscreen. Wingtip devices and tail-cone shape confirm the model.

What is the difference between a narrowbody and a widebody?

A narrowbody has a single aisle and typically carries 100 to 240 passengers on short and medium routes. A widebody has two aisles, carries 250 to 500 passengers and is built for long-haul flying.

How high do these aircraft fly?

Jets cruise between roughly 31,000 and 42,000 ft; turboprops like the ATR 72 stay closer to 25,000 ft. Weight, weather and surrounding traffic all move the exact level a given flight is given.