Spotting & today

Logging a 737-800, and where it stands today

Type codes for your logbook, what Boeing says now, and why we don’t print fleet counts. Things here change, so each one shows the date we checked it.

Codes for your logbook

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 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

Its FAA designator is ‘P8’, listed as the 737-800 Poseidon. FAA Order JO 7360.1K, Aircraft Type Designators (effective 12 Jun 2025, PDF) · checked 29 Oct 2026

Quick checks at the fence

• 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 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
• 737-700s, -800s and -900s were also delivered with winglets, for better cruise performance. Boeing: Next-Generation 737 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning, D6-58325-7 Rev C (Oct 2025, PDF)

Where it stands today

Boeing’s 737NG page says the 737NG continues to give airlines reliability and fuel efficiency, and points to the 737 MAX family, which it calls the fastest-selling aeroplane in Boeing’s history. Boeing: 737 Next Generation (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026 Boeing’s current MAX table lists four models: 737-7, 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10. Boeing: 737 MAX (product page and spec table) · checked 29 Oct 2026

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

Then and now

In February 1997 Boeing said a 737 was taking off somewhere in the world every six seconds. Boeing news release: Boeing Next-Generation 737 takes to the skies (9 Feb 1997) In April 1998 Boeing said the 737, with almost 4,000 orders, was the best-selling commercial jetliner of all time, with more than 825 in the air at any time. Boeing news release: First Next-Generation 737-800 goes to Hapag-Lloyd (23 Apr 1998)

In late 2004 Boeing’s 737 family page said the 737 family had won orders for more than 5,200 aircraft. Boeing: 737 family background page (archived 9 Dec 2004)

Next: myths vs facts →