Boeing 737 MAX 8

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B38M  Boeing · Boeing 737 MAX

Boeing 737 MAX 8 at a glance

  • What it is: the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is a medium-range jet built by Boeing, first flown in 2016.
  • On the radar: it shows up as type code B38M. How to spot it overhead.
  • How far it flies: about 6,480 km without stopping, cruising near 839 km/h.
  • How many it carries: 162–210 passengers, depending on how the airline fits out the cabin.
  • Power: 2× CFM LEAP-1B, with a 35.9 m wingspan.
6,480 km
Range
839 km/h
Cruise speed
162–210+
Passengers
2016
First flight

The re-engined successor to the 737-800, about 14 percent more fuel-efficient thanks to LEAP-1B engines and split-tip winglets. It was grounded worldwide from 2019 to 2020 after two fatal crashes, then returned with revised flight-control software. It now forms the backbone of fleets at Southwest, Ryanair, American and many others.

The story of the Boeing 737 MAX 8

Boeing launched the 737 MAX in August 2011 as a rapid answer to the Airbus A320neo. Boeing wanted a response within months, not years, and re-engining an existing jet was the fastest path. Engineers fitted CFM LEAP-1B turbofans and split-tip winglets. The core MAX 8 first flew on January 29, 2016, and Malindo Air began service in May 2017. Deliveries began less than five years after launch.

The MAX 8 promised about 14 percent lower fuel burn than the 737-800. Orders poured in from Southwest, Ryanair, flydubai and hundreds of other customers. Then came disaster. Lion Air Flight 610 crashed in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019. Both were linked to the MCAS flight-control software, and trust in the program collapsed. Two crashes in five months changed everything.

Regulators grounded the worldwide fleet for some 20 months, the longest grounding of a major airliner. Boeing revised the software, the training and the approval process, and flights resumed in late 2020. Thousands are now delivered or on order at Southwest, Ryanair, United, American and Alaska. Ryanair's high-density 737-8200 squeezes in 197 seats. The MAX 8 is once again the backbone of Boeing's commercial business. Confidence returned slowly.

Design and engineering

The MAX 8 puts CFM LEAP-1B engines on the classic 737 airframe. Their bigger fans forced Boeing to mount them higher and farther forward.

To lengthen the nose gear by about eight inches for ground clearance. That taller stance is an easy way to spot one. Sawtooth chevrons on the nacelles cut noise.

Advanced Technology winglets split into upper and lower blades. The cockpit deliberately stays close to the 737NG, apart from large-format displays, so pilots need only differences training. Seating reaches 189, or 210 in the 737-8200.

How to recognise the B38M in the wild

Look for split-tip winglets with blades above and below the wing, sawtooth chevrons on the engine nacelle trailing edges, and the 737's classic pointed nose and low stance; the tailcone is more sculpted than a 737NG's. More tells in how to identify any aircraft overhead.

Variants and close relatives

VariantWhat sets it apart
737 MAX 8The core model of the family, replacing the 737-800.
737-8200A high-density MAX 8 for up to 200 seats, flown mainly by Ryanair.
737 MAX 9A stretched version competing with the A321neo.
737 MAX 7/10The shortest and longest family members, certified years behind schedule.

Major operators: Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines - Find them in the airline database and watch their B38Ms on the live map.

Facts about the Boeing 737 MAX 8

  • The worldwide MAX grounding lasted roughly 20 months from March 2019, the longest in the history of a major airliner.
  • The nose landing gear is about eight inches taller than a 737NG's to give the larger LEAP-1B engines ground clearance.
  • Ryanair's version, the 737-8200, packs 197 seats and required an extra pair of exit doors.
  • Unlike the A320neo, the MAX is offered with a single engine type, the CFM LEAP-1B, built specifically for it.
ICAO type code
B38M
Manufacturer
Boeing
Capacity
162–210 passengers
Range
6,480 km
Cruise speed
839 km/h
MTOW
82,191 kg
Engines
2× CFM LEAP-1B
Wingspan / length
35.9 m / 39.5 m

Aircraft related to the Boeing 737 MAX 8

Comparable types selected by family, manufacturer, capacity, range and generation.

B739 Boeing 737-900ER Boeing · 178–220 passengers B738 Boeing 737-800 Boeing · 162–189 passengers B752 Boeing 757-200 Boeing · 180–239 passengers B737 Boeing 737-700 Boeing · 126–149 passengers

Tracked flights using the Boeing 737 MAX 8

These existing flight profiles list the Boeing 737 MAX 8 as typical equipment. Airlines can substitute another type on the day.

FlightRoute
G37600GRU → MIATrack G37600 →
G37650GRU → MCOTrack G37650 →
WN100LAS → PHXTrack WN100 →
FR1DUB → AGPTrack FR1 →

More aircraft and tracking guides for the Boeing 737 MAX 8

Spot one overhead using our aircraft identification guide. Telling this maker apart from its rival is easier than it looks, as Boeing versus Airbus shows. Short-haul flying has its own economics, covered in low-cost versus full-service.

Data sources and review

Reviewed 2026-07-29 by Flight-Tracker.net Editorial Team

Range, seating, speed and weight describe the aircraft type, not a specific airline configuration. Published figures vary by engine, weight option and cabin layout.

Read our aircraft specification sourcing and review process, or inspect the machine-readable reference dataset.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 frequently asked questions

What is the range of the Boeing 737 MAX 8?

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 has a published range of about 6,480 km, cruising at roughly 839 km/h. Real-world range depends on payload, winds and reserves.

How many passengers does the Boeing 737 MAX 8 carry?

A typical Boeing 737 MAX 8 seats 162–210 passengers, though the exact number depends on how the operating airline configures its cabin.

What is the ICAO type code for the Boeing 737 MAX 8?

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 uses the ICAO type designator B38M. That is the code you will see when you click this aircraft type on a live flight-tracking map.

What engines does the Boeing 737 MAX 8 use?

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is powered by 2× CFM LEAP-1B, with a maximum takeoff weight of about 82,191 kg and a wingspan of 35.9 m.

How do you identify a Boeing 737 MAX 8?

Look for split-tip winglets with blades above and below the wing, sawtooth chevrons on the engine nacelle trailing edges, and the 737's classic pointed nose and low stance; the tailcone is more sculpted than a 737NG's.

Which airlines operate the Boeing 737 MAX 8?

Major operators in this reference profile include Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines. Fleets change as aircraft are delivered, stored, leased and retired, so confirm current fleets with the airline.

Which tracked flights use the Boeing 737 MAX 8?

Selected scheduled services in this tracker that typically use the Boeing 737 MAX 8 include G37600, G37650, WN100, FR1. Equipment can change on the day, so the aircraft shown for each flight is a typical assignment, not a guarantee.

Is the Boeing 737 MAX 8 a narrowbody or a widebody?

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is a narrowbody, meaning a single aisle down the middle of the cabin. With 162–210 passengers seats and 6,480 km of range it is typically flown on short and medium-haul routes.