Questions people actually ask

The first 737-800 took off at 9 a.m. on 31 July 1997 from Renton Municipal Airport, flown by Boeing Captains Mike Hewett and Jim McRoberts, and landed at Boeing Field, Seattle, three hours and five minutes later. Boeing news release: Longest Boeing 737 makes first flight (31 Jul 1997)

The FAA type-certificated the 737-800 on 13 March 1998, and European (JAA) validation followed on 9 April 1998. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet IM.A.120, Boeing 737, Issue 30 (PDF) Boeing announced the first 737-800 delivery, to launch customer Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, on 23 April 1998: the first of 16 the airline had ordered. Boeing news release: First Next-Generation 737-800 goes to Hapag-Lloyd (23 Apr 1998)

Lengths, from Boeing’s current tables: 737-700 33.6 m (110 ft 4 in), 737-800 39.5 m (129 ft 6 in), 737-900 42.1 m (138 ft 2 in). Boeing: 737 Next Generation (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026

Seats, from Boeing’s current table: 160–180 in two classes, maximum 189 passengers. Boeing: 737 Next Generation (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026 Boeing’s airport planning manual uses 160 seats two-class and 184 all-economy for the 737-800. Boeing: Next-Generation 737 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning, D6-58325-7 Rev C (Oct 2025, PDF)

Engines: two CFM56-7B turbofans by CFM International. Boeing: 737 Next Generation (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026 CFM International says the CFM56-7B is the exclusive engine for the Next-Generation 737 and its military variants. CFM International: CFM56-5B & CFM56-7B

Range: up to 2,800 nautical miles (5,190 km). Boeing: 737 Next Generation (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026

The 737-800 has two Type III overwing emergency exits on each side of the cabin. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet IM.A.120, Boeing 737, Issue 30 (PDF) The shorter 737-700 has one overwing exit on each side, which is a handy way to tell them apart. EASA: Type-Certificate Data Sheet IM.A.120, Boeing 737, Issue 30 (PDF)

The 737 MAX 8 is the same length as the 737-800, 39.5 m (129 ft 6 in), so length alone won’t separate them. Boeing: 737 MAX (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026 The 737 MAX family uses CFM International LEAP-1B engines; the 737NG uses the CFM56-7B. Boeing: 737 MAX (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026 The 737 MAX 8 has its own designator, B38M, so a tracker can tell you which one you’re looking at. FAA Order JO 7360.1K, Aircraft Type Designators (effective 12 Jun 2025, PDF) · checked 29 Oct 2026

Flight trackers and flight plans call the 737-800 ‘B738’: the FAA type designator it shares with the BBJ2. The 737-700 is B737 and the 737-900 is B739. FAA Order JO 7360.1K, Aircraft Type Designators (effective 12 Jun 2025, PDF) · checked 29 Oct 2026

The first Next-Generation 737 with the Boeing Sky Interior was a 737-800, delivered on 27 October 2010. Boeing news release: Boeing delivers first 737 Boeing Sky Interior (27 Oct 2010) Airlines can choose lighting schemes from a soft blue ‘sky’ to sunset colours. Boeing news release: Boeing delivers first 737 Boeing Sky Interior (27 Oct 2010)

The US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon combines the 737-800 airframe with -900 wings, a weapons bay and pylons. US Navy fact file: P-8A Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft

CFM says more than 15,000 CFM56-7B engines have been delivered to power 737s, with more than 500 million engine flight hours logged. CFM International: CFM56-5B & CFM56-7B · checked 29 Oct 2026

We haven’t found a current, official, dated count of 737-800s in service, so we don’t give one. CFM’s engine figure covers every Next-Generation 737 and its military versions, not just the -800.