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July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Aviation

Boeing 737

The Boeing 737 is an American twin-engine, narrow-body jet airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

The Boeing 737 is an American twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. First flown in 1967, it entered service in 1968 and has become one of the most widely used commercial aircraft families in aviation history.

What it is

The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range jetliner designed for passenger service. It is built at Boeing’s Renton factory in Washington and has been produced continuously since 1967. The family includes several generations, such as the 737 Classic, 737 Next Generation, and 737 MAX, with typical capacity ranging from about 138 to 230 passengers.

Why it matters

The 737 is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft ever built, with a long production run and widespread use by airlines worldwide. Its versatility, commonality across variants, and suitability for high-frequency service make it a benchmark in single-aisle airliner design. In Canada, it is widely operated on domestic and transborder routes.

Key details

The first flight was on April 9, 1967, and it entered service with Lufthansa on February 10, 1968. Range varies by variant, from about 3,215 to 3,825 nautical miles. The 737 remains in production as Boeing’s single-aisle narrow-body aircraft family.

In short

  • Twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner produced since 1967
  • Multiple generations: Classic, Next Generation, and MAX
  • One of the best-selling commercial aircraft in history
  • Widely used by Canadian airlines for short- and medium-haul routes
Canadian angle

The Boeing 737 is widely operated by Canadian airlines and has been important on domestic and transborder routes, especially for short- and medium-haul service across Canada.

Quick questions

What is the Boeing 737?
The Boeing 737 is a twin-engine, narrow-body commercial jet airliner built by Boeing for short- and medium-haul flights.
When did the Boeing 737 first fly?
The first Boeing 737 flight took place on April 9, 1967.
How many passengers can it carry?
Depending on the variant and cabin layout, the 737 typically carries about 138 to 230 passengers.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737
    Supports: Basic description, aircraft type, production location, capacity and range overview.
  2. Simple Flyinghttps://simpleflying.com/boeing-737/
    Supports: First flight date and entry into service.
  3. FlightGlobalhttps://www.flightglobal.com/boeing-737-aircraft-profile/76702.article
    Supports: Historical significance and status as a best-selling commercial airliner.
  4. The Museum of Flighthttps://www.museumofflight.org/exhibits-and-events/aircraft/boeing-737-130
    Supports: General significance of the 737 family and its reputation as a workhorse aircraft.