Boeing 737-800

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B738  Boeing · Boeing 737 Next Generation

Boeing 737-800 at a glance

  • What it is: the Boeing 737-800 is a medium-range jet built by Boeing, first flown in 1997.
  • On the radar: it shows up as type code B738. How to spot it overhead.
  • How far it flies: about 5,765 km without stopping, cruising near 842 km/h.
  • How many it carries: 162–189 passengers, depending on how the airline fits out the cabin.
  • Power: 2× CFM56-7B, with a 35.8 m wingspan.
5,765 km
Range
842 km/h
Cruise speed
162–189+
Passengers
1997
First flight

The best-selling variant of the 737NG with nearly 5,000 built, the workhorse of short-haul fleets worldwide. Ryanair alone operates more than 400 of them. Many are now being converted to freighters as passenger fleets transition to the MAX.

The story of the Boeing 737-800

Boeing launched the 737-800 in 1994 as the stretched heart of the Next Generation family. It was meant to replace the 737-400 and take on the Airbus A320 head-on. The stretch added seats without adding much weight, so airlines earned more from every departure. It first flew on July 31, 1997, and German carrier Hapag-Lloyd began service in April 1998. Costs per seat fell sharply for every operator.

With 162 to 189 seats, a new larger wing and CFM56-7B engines, it landed almost perfectly in the sweet spot of the short-haul market. Nearly 5,000 were delivered before production moved to the MAX 8. Only a handful of airliner types have ever reached such numbers, and deliveries ran for more than two decades. That makes it the best-selling 737 version ever built. Few programs have matched the pace.

Ryanair built Europe's largest all-Boeing short-haul operation on more than 400 of them. Southwest, American, United, Delta, Qantas and Turkish Airlines made it their standard domestic jet. The airframe also led to the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon. Even now it is one of the most common aircraft in the sky at any given moment. Hundreds now fly again as 737-800BCF freighters, hauling packages for e-commerce networks.

Design and engineering

The -800 stretches the NG fuselage to 39.5 meters and seats up to 189 people. Two CFM56-7B turbofans sit in the flat-bottomed housings that the 737's short landing gear demands. The Next Generation wing carries more fuel and lift than classic 737 wings, and most aircraft wear blended or split scimitar winglets.

The glass cockpit is shared with the -700 and -900. One type rating covers the whole 737NG family and a short course bridges crews to the MAX. Late-build jets have the Boeing Sky Interior with larger pivoting bins.

How to recognise the B738 in the wild

A long-bodied 737 with flat-bottomed nacelles, two overwing exits per side and, on most aircraft, blended or split scimitar winglets; it lacks the MAX 8's nacelle chevrons even though the two are the same length. More tells in how to identify any aircraft overhead.

Variants and close relatives

VariantWhat sets it apart
737-800The standard passenger model, the workhorse of the NG family.
737-800BCFThe Boeing Converted Freighter version created from used passenger airframes.
P-8 PoseidonThe military maritime-patrol derivative flown by the US Navy and allied air arms.
BBJ2The corporate-jet version based on the -800 airframe.

Major operators: Ryanair, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Qantas - Find them in the airline database and watch their B738s on the live map.

Facts about the Boeing 737-800

  • With close to 5,000 built, the 737-800 is the best-selling 737 variant in history.
  • Ryanair operated more than 400 of them, the largest 737-800 fleet in the world.
  • The US Navy's P-8 Poseidon submarine hunter is based on the 737-800 fuselage mated to 737-900-style wings.
  • Hundreds of retired passenger -800s are being converted into 737-800BCF freighters for e-commerce cargo networks.
ICAO type code
B738
Manufacturer
Boeing
Capacity
162–189 passengers
Range
5,765 km
Cruise speed
842 km/h
MTOW
79,016 kg
Engines
2× CFM56-7B
Wingspan / length
35.8 m / 39.5 m

Aircraft related to the Boeing 737-800

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

B739 Boeing 737-900ER Boeing · 178–220 passengers B737 Boeing 737-700 Boeing · 126–149 passengers B38M Boeing 737 MAX 8 Boeing · 162–210 passengers B752 Boeing 757-200 Boeing · 180–239 passengers B77L Boeing 777F Boeing · 103 tonnes cargo

Tracked flights using the Boeing 737-800

These existing flight profiles list the Boeing 737-800 as typical equipment. Airlines can substitute another type on the day.

FlightRoute
AS65SEA → JNUTrack AS65 →
CM100PTY → MIATrack CM100 →
G31402CGH → SDUTrack G31402 →
G37402GRU → EZETrack G37402 →
G31404CGH → BSBTrack G31404 →
KQ760NBO → JNBTrack KQ760 →
WN2HOU → DALTrack WN2 →
FR202DUB → STNTrack FR202 →

More aircraft and tracking guides for the Boeing 737-800

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 737-800 frequently asked questions

What is the range of the Boeing 737-800?

The Boeing 737-800 has a published range of about 5,765 km, cruising at roughly 842 km/h. Real-world range depends on payload, winds and reserves.

How many passengers does the Boeing 737-800 carry?

A typical Boeing 737-800 seats 162–189 passengers, though the exact number depends on how the operating airline configures its cabin.

What is the ICAO type code for the Boeing 737-800?

The Boeing 737-800 uses the ICAO type designator B738. That is the code you will see when you click this aircraft type on a live flight-tracking map.

What engines does the Boeing 737-800 use?

The Boeing 737-800 is powered by 2× CFM56-7B, with a maximum takeoff weight of about 79,016 kg and a wingspan of 35.8 m.

How do you identify a Boeing 737-800?

A long-bodied 737 with flat-bottomed nacelles, two overwing exits per side and, on most aircraft, blended or split scimitar winglets; it lacks the MAX 8's nacelle chevrons even though the two are the same length.

Which airlines operate the Boeing 737-800?

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

Which tracked flights use the Boeing 737-800?

Selected scheduled services in this tracker that typically use the Boeing 737-800 include AS65, CM100, G31402, G37402, G31404. Equipment can change on the day, so the aircraft shown for each flight is a typical assignment, not a guarantee.

Is the Boeing 737-800 a narrowbody or a widebody?

The Boeing 737-800 is a narrowbody, meaning a single aisle down the middle of the cabin. With 162–189 passengers seats and 5,765 km of range it is typically flown on short and medium-haul routes.