Boeing 737-700

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B737  Boeing · Boeing 737 Next Generation

Boeing 737-700 at a glance

  • What it is: the Boeing 737-700 is a medium-range jet built by Boeing, first flown in 1997.
  • On the radar: it shows up as type code B737. How to spot it overhead.
  • How far it flies: about 6,230 km without stopping, cruising near 842 km/h.
  • How many it carries: 126–149 passengers, depending on how the airline fits out the cabin.
  • Power: 2× CFM56-7B, with a 35.8 m wingspan.
6,230 km
Range
842 km/h
Cruise speed
126–149+
Passengers
1997
First flight

The smallest widely used member of the 737 Next Generation family, launched with Southwest Airlines. Its longer range relative to size made it popular for thinner routes. Today it is most visible in the Southwest and WestJet fleets and as the basis of the BBJ1 business jet.

The story of the Boeing 737-700

The 737-700 opened the 737 Next Generation program in November 1993, with Southwest Airlines as launch customer. Southwest wanted a fresh jet it could slot straight into its existing fleet. The NG kept the proven fuselage but added a bigger redesigned wing, new CFM56-7B engines, higher cruise speed and a modern glass cockpit. Boeing delivered exactly that. Southwest ordered the jet in large numbers from the very start.

The -700 is roughly the size of the older 737-300. It was the first NG to fly, on February 9, 1997, and Southwest began service in January 1998. More than 1,100 were delivered. For years it anchored Southwest, which built the largest 737 fleet in the world around the type. That fleet grew into hundreds of aircraft. No other airline has ever come close to that scale.

WestJet in Canada and many carriers in Europe, Asia and Latin America flew it too. Light weight plus NG fuel capacity gave strong range for its size, keeping long, thin routes paying. The airframe also spawned the first Boeing Business Jet and the US Navy's C-40 Clipper. Hundreds still fly daily, above all in the Southwest network. Airline production has ended in favor of the MAX 7.

Design and engineering

Two CFM56-7B turbofans sit in the 737's trademark flat-bottomed housings. That shape exists because the short landing gear leaves little room under the wing.

The Next Generation wing is larger and more efficient than the classic 737 wing. Fuel capacity is generous for a jet of this size. Most -700s later gained tall blended winglets.

A two-crew glass cockpit gives one type rating across all 737NG models, with differences training bridging crews to the MAX. The single-aisle cabin seats about 126 to 149 people, six abreast. Boeing's Sky Interior appears on late builds.

How to recognise the B737 in the wild

A short-bodied 737 with flat-bottomed engine nacelles close to the ground, a pointed nose and usually tall blended winglets; it is noticeably stubbier than the ubiquitous 737-800 and lacks the MAX's split winglets and nacelle chevrons. More tells in how to identify any aircraft overhead.

Variants and close relatives

VariantWhat sets it apart
737-700The baseline passenger model seating roughly 126 to 149 passengers.
BBJ1The corporate-jet version with auxiliary fuel tanks and intercontinental range.
C-40 ClipperThe US Navy military transport derivative of the -700.
737 MAX 7Its re-engined successor in the MAX family.

Major operators: Southwest Airlines, WestJet, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines - Find them in the airline database and watch their B737s on the live map.

Facts about the Boeing 737-700

  • Southwest Airlines launched the 737NG program in 1993 and still operates the largest 737-700 fleet in the world.
  • The original Boeing Business Jet, the BBJ1, combines the 737-700 fuselage with the stronger wing and landing gear of the 737-800.
  • The US Navy flies a military version of the -700 as the C-40 Clipper transport.
  • The 737's engine nacelles are flattened on the bottom because the aircraft sits so low that a round cowling would not fit.
ICAO type code
B737
Manufacturer
Boeing
Capacity
126–149 passengers
Range
6,230 km
Cruise speed
842 km/h
MTOW
70,080 kg
Engines
2× CFM56-7B
Wingspan / length
35.8 m / 33.6 m

Aircraft related to the Boeing 737-700

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

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 B77L Boeing 777F Boeing · 103 tonnes cargo

Tracked flights using the Boeing 737-700

These existing flight profiles list the Boeing 737-700 as typical equipment. Airlines can substitute another type on the day.

FlightRoute
WN1DAL → HOUTrack WN1 →
WN1380LGA → DALTrack WN1380 →
WN1248BWI → MDWTrack WN1248 →

More aircraft and tracking guides for the Boeing 737-700

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 737-700 frequently asked questions

What is the range of the Boeing 737-700?

The Boeing 737-700 has a published range of about 6,230 km, cruising at roughly 842 km/h. Real-world range depends on payload, winds and reserves.

How many passengers does the Boeing 737-700 carry?

A typical Boeing 737-700 seats 126–149 passengers, though the exact number depends on how the operating airline configures its cabin.

What is the ICAO type code for the Boeing 737-700?

The Boeing 737-700 uses the ICAO type designator B737. That is the code you will see when you click this aircraft type on a live flight-tracking map.

What engines does the Boeing 737-700 use?

The Boeing 737-700 is powered by 2× CFM56-7B, with a maximum takeoff weight of about 70,080 kg and a wingspan of 35.8 m.

How do you identify a Boeing 737-700?

A short-bodied 737 with flat-bottomed engine nacelles close to the ground, a pointed nose and usually tall blended winglets; it is noticeably stubbier than the ubiquitous 737-800 and lacks the MAX's split winglets and nacelle chevrons.

Which airlines operate the Boeing 737-700?

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

Which tracked flights use the Boeing 737-700?

Selected scheduled services in this tracker that typically use the Boeing 737-700 include WN1, WN1380, WN1248. Equipment can change on the day, so the aircraft shown for each flight is a typical assignment, not a guarantee.

Is the Boeing 737-700 a narrowbody or a widebody?

The Boeing 737-700 is a narrowbody, meaning a single aisle down the middle of the cabin. With 126–149 passengers seats and 6,230 km of range it is typically flown on short and medium-haul routes.