The Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new generation' of the 737. Produced from 1984 to 2000, 1,988 aircraft were delivered. As of January 1, 2001, 1,945 remain in service.

Development and design

After the success of the Boeing 737-200 Advanced, Boeing wanted to increase capacity and range, incorporating improvements to upgrade the plane to modern specifications, while also retaining commonality with previous 737 variants. Development began in 1979, and in 1980 preliminary aircraft specifications were released at the Farnborough Airshow. In March 1981 USAir and Southwest Airlines each ordered 10 aircraft, with an option for 20 more.

The new series featured CFM56 turbofan engines, which yielded significant gains in fuel economy and a reduction in noise, but also posed an engineering challenge given the low ground clearance of the 737. Boeing and engine supplier CFMI solved the problem by placing the engine ahead of (rather than below) the wing, and by moving engine accessories to the sides (rather than the bottom) of the engine pod, giving the 737 a distinctive non-circular air intake.

The wing incorporated a number of changes for improved aerodynamics. The wing tip was extended 9 in (23 cm). The leading-edge slots and trailing-edge flaps were adjusted. The flight deck was improved with the optional EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrumentation System), and the passenger cabin incorporated improvements similar to those on the Boeing 757.

Variants

Boeing 737-300

The prototype of the -300 rolled out of the Renton plant on January 17, 1984, and first flew on 24 February 1984. After it received its flight certification on November 14, 1984, USAir received the first aircraft on 28 November. A very popular aircraft, Boeing received 252 orders for it in 1985, and over 1000 throughout its production. The 300 series remained in production until 1999 when the last aircraft was delivered to Air New Zealand on 17 December 1999, registration ZK-NGJ.

In December 2008, Southwest Airlines selected Boeing to retrofit the 737-300 with a new set of instruments, hardware and software, in order to improve commonality with the 737-700, as well as to support the Required Navigation Performance initiative.

The 737-300 can be retrofitted with Aviation Partners Boeing winglets. The 737-300 retrofitted with winglets is designated the -300SP (special performance). Used passenger -300 aircraft have also been converted to freighter versions.

The 737-300 was replaced by the 737-700 in the Boeing 737 Next Generation family.

Boeing 737-400

The 737-400 design was launched in 1985 to fill the gap between the 737-300 and the 757-200, and competed with the Airbus A320 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80. It stretched the 737-300 another 10 ft (3.45 m) to carry up to 168 passengers. It included a tail bumper to prevent tailscrapes during take-off (an early issue with the 757), and a strengthened wing spar. The airplane was also upgraded to a full glass cockpit as standard equipment. The prototype rolled out on January 26, 1988, and flew for the first time on 19 February 1988.

The aircraft entered service on September 15, 1988 with launch customer Piedmont Airlines (25 aircraft ordered).

The 737-400F was not a model delivered by Boeing but a converted 737-400 to an all cargo aircraft. Alaska Airlines was the first to convert one of their 400s from regular service to an aircraft with the ability to handle 10 pallets. The airline has also converted five more into fixed combi aircraft for half passenger and freight. These 737-400 Combi aircraft are now in service.

The 737-400 was replaced by the 737-800 in the Boeing 737 Next Generation family.

Boeing 737-500

The -500 series was offered, due to customer demand, as a modern and direct replacement of the 737-200, incorporating the improvements of the 737 Classic series in a model that allowed longer routes with fewer passengers to be more economical than with the 737-300. The fuselage length of the -500 is 1 ft 7 in (47 cm) longer than the 737-200, accommodating up to 132 passengers. Both glass and older style mechanical cockpits arrangements were available. Using the CFM56-3 engine also gave a 25% increase in fuel efficiency over the older -200s P&W engines.

The 737-500 was launched in 1987 by Southwest Airlines, with an order for 20 aircraft, and flew for the first time on 30 June 1989. A single prototype flew 375 hours for the certification process, and on February 28, 1990 Southwest Airlines received the first delivery. The 737-500 has become a favorite of some Russian airlines, with Nordavia, Rossiya Airlines, S7 Airlines, Sky Express, Transaero, and Yamal Airlines all buying second-hand models of the aircraft to replace aging Soviet-built aircraft and/or expand their fleets. Aerolíneas Argentinas is replacing their 737-200's with second-hand 737-500's.

The 737-500 was replaced by the 737-600 in the Boeing 737 Next Generation family. However, unlike the 737-500, the 737-600 has been a slow seller for Boeing since its introduction, with only 69 aircraft delivered.

Operators

Civilian

• As of July 2010, 1,651 Boeing 737 Classic aircraft were in commercial service. This includes 879 -300s, 419 -400s, and 353 -500s.

Military

• Many countries operate the 737 passenger and cargo variants in government or military applications. Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India (Indian Air Force), Indonesia, Kuwait, Mexico, Niger, Peru, Philippines (Philippine Air Force) South Korea, Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC's Air Force One), Thailand (Royal Thai Air Force), United Arab Emirates, Venezuela.
• The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of the People's Republic of China operates a 737-300 (registered B-4052) as an airborne command post.

Past and present operators (all 737 models)

• Afghanistan
  Kam Air
  Pamir Airways
  Safi Airways
• Algeria
  Air Algérie
  Air Algérie Cargo
  Antinea Airlines
  Ecoair International
  Khalifa Airways
  Tassili Airlines
• Argentina
  Aerolíneas Argentinas
  Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo
  American Falcon
  Austral Líneas Aéreas
  Dinar Líneas Aéreas
  LAPA
  LAN Argentina
  Southern Winds Airlines
• Australia
  Ansett Australia
  OzJet
  Qantas
  Virgin Blue
• Austria
  Austrian Airlines ( Aircraft taken over from Lauda Air)
  Lauda Air
• Bahamas
  Bahamas Air
• Bahrain
  Gulf Air
• Bangladesh
  Best Air
  Biman Bangladesh Airlines
  GMG Airlines
• Belarus
  Belavia
• Belgium
  Brussels Airlines
  Jetairfly
  TNT Airways
• Bolivia
  Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano
  AeroSur
  Boliviana de Aviación
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
  B&H Airlines
• Brazil
  Gol Transportes Aéreos
  Rico Linhas Aéreas
  TAF Linhas Aéreas
  Varig
  WebJet Linhas Aéreas
  Transbrasil
  VASP
  BRA Transportes Aéreo
  Nacional Transportes Aéreos
  Cruzeiro do Sul
  Flex Linhas Aéreas
  OceanAir
  ATA Brasil
• Brunei
  Royal Brunei Airlines is a past operator of the Boeing 737.
• Bulgaria
  Air Sofia
  Bulgaria Air
  Cargoair
  Hemus Air
• Cambodia
  PMTair
  Royal Khmer Airlines
• Canada
  Air Canada
  Air North
  Canadian Airlines
  Canadian North
  Canadian Pacific Airlines
  Canjet Airlines
  CHC Helicopter
  Enerjet
  First Air
  Nolinor
  Nordair
  Pacific Western Airlines
  Quebecair
  Sunwing Airlines
  WestJet
• Chile
  Air Comet Chile
  Avant Airlines
  Ladeco
  LAN Airlines
  National Airlines (Chile)
  PAL Airlines
  Sky Airline
• People's Republic of China
  Air China
  Chang'an Airlines
  China Eastern Airlines
  China Southern Airlines
  China United Airlines
  China Xinhua Airlines
  Hainan Airlines
  Lucky Air
  Shandong Airlines
  Shanghai Airlines
  Shenzhen Airlines
  Xiamen Airlines
  Yangtze River Express Airlines
• Colombia
  AIRES
  AeroRepublica
  AeroSucre
  Colombian Air Force
• Croatia
  Croatia Airline
• Cyprus
  αjet
  Eurocypria
  Helios Airways
• Czech Republic
  Czech Airlines
  Travel Service
• Denmark
  Cimber Sterling
  Jettime
  Maersk Air
  Primera Scandinavia
  SAS Denmark
  Sterling Airways
  Transavia Denmark
• Ecuador
  Aerogal
  Icaro Air
• Egypt
  AMC Airlines
  EgyptAir
  Midwest Airlines
• El Salvador
  TACA Airlines
• Estonia
  Estonian Air
• Ethiopia
  Ethiopian Airlines
• Fiji
  Air Pacific
• Finland
  Finnair Cargo
• France
  Air Charter
  Air France
  Air Liberte
  Air Tolouse International
  Corse Air International
  Europe Airpost
  Star Europe
  Transavia.com France
  XL Airways France
• Georgia
  Georgian Airways
• Germany
  Air Berlin
  Bavaria Fluggesellschaft
  Cirrus Airlines
  Condor
  dba
  Germania
  Hamburg International
  Hapag-Lloyd
  Lufthansa
  TUIfly
  XL Airways Germany
• Greece
  Aegean Airlines
  Olympic Airlines
  Cronus Airlines
• Honduras
  Atlantic Airlines de Honduras
  SAHSA
  Rollins Air
• Hong Kong
  Hong Kong Airlines
• Hungary
  Malév Hungarian Airlines
  Travel Service Hungary
• Iceland
  Air Atlanta Icelandic
  Bluebird Cargo
  Iceland Express
  Islandsflug
  Icelandair
• India
  Air India Express
  Air Sahara
  Indian Airlines
  Jet Airways
  JetLite
  SpiceJet
  Blue Dart Aviation
• Indonesia
  Airfast Indonesia
  Batavia Air
  Citilink
  Garuda Indonesia
  Indonesia AirAsia
  Kartika Airlines
  Lion Air
  Merpati Nusantara Airlines
  Sriwijaya Air
  Tri-MG Intra Asia Airlines
• Ireland
  Aer Lingus
  Ryanair
• Iran
  Iran Air
  Iran Aseman Airlines
• Iraq
  Iraqi Airways
• Israel
  El Al
  Israel Aerospace Industries
• Italy
  Air Italy
  Air One
  Alitalia
  Blue Panorama Airlines
  Neos
  Mistral Air
• Japan
  All Nippon Airways
  JAL Express
  Japan Airlines
  Japan Transocean Air
  Skymark Airlines
• Kazakhstan
  Air Astana
• Kenya
  Kenya Airways
• Latvia
  Air Baltic
• Lithuania
  Aurela
  Star1 Airlines
  FlyLAL Charters
• Libya
  Buraq Air
• Luxembourg
  Luxair
• Macedonia
  MAT Macedonian Airlines
• Madagascar
  Air Madagascar
• Malaysia
  AirAsia
  Malaysia Airlines
  Royal Malaysian Air Force
• Mauritania
  Air Mauritanie
• Mexico
  Aviacsa
  Magnicharters
  VivaAerobus
  Aeromexico
• Mongolia
  Mongolian Airlines
• Morocco
  Atlas Blue
  Jet4you
  Royal Air Maroc
  Royal Air Maroc Cargo
• Nauru
  Our Airline
• Netherlands
  Arkefly
  KLM
  Transavia.com
• New Zealand
  Air New Zealand
  Ansett New Zealand
  Freedom Air
  Kiwi Travel International Airlines
  National Airways Corporation
  Pacific Blue
• Nigeria
  Aero Contractors
  Arik Air
  Bellview Airlines
  Nigerian Eagle Airlines
  Virgin Nigeria Airways
• Norway
  Braathens
  Busy Bee
  Color Air
  Norwegian Air Shuttle
  SAS Braathens
  Scandinavian Airlines
• Oman
  Gulf Air
  Oman Air
• Pakistan
  Aero Asia International
  Pakistan International Airlines
  Shaheen Air International
• Panama
  Copa Airlines
• Paraguay
  Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas S.A.
  Regional Paraguaya Líneas Aéreas
  Delcar Charters
• Peru
  Aero Condor Peru
  Aero Continente
  Nuevo Continente
  Star Perú
  Peruvian Airlines
  Peruvian Air Force
• Philippines
  Air Philippines
  Pacific Pearl Airways
  Philippine Airlines
  Spirit of Manila
  Philippine Air Force
• Poland
  Centralwings
  LOT Polish Airlines
• Réunion
  Air Austral
• Romania
  Blue Air
  TAROM
  Air Bucharest
• Russia
  Aeroflot-Cargo
  Aviaprad
  Donavia
  Gazpromavia
  KD Avia
  KrasAir
  Moscow Airlines
  Nordavia
  Orenair
  Rossiya
  S7 Airlines
  SAT Airlines
  SkyExpress
  Transaero
  UTair
  Yamal Airlines
• Samoa
  Polynesian Blue
• Saudi Arabia
  Saudi Arabian Airlines
• Serbia
  Aviogenex
  Jat Airways
• Slovakia
  AirExplore
  Central Charter Airlines Slovakia
  Travel Service Slovakia
• South Africa
  Comair
  Kulula.com
  Interair South Africa
  Interlink Airlines
  South African Airways
• South Korea
  Asiana Airlines
  Air Busan
  Eastar Jet
  Jeju Air
  Jin Air
  Korean Air
• Spain
  Air Europa
  Flyant
  Futura International Airways
  Viva Air
• Suriname
  Surinam Airways
• Sweden
  Falcon Air
  FlyMe
  Linjeflyg
  Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.se)
  Novair
  Scandinavian Airlines
  Torair
  TUIfly Nordic
  Viking Airlines
• Taiwan
  China Airlines
  Far Eastern Air Transport
  Mandarin Airlines
• Tanzania
  Air Tanzania
• Thailand
  Nok Air
  Thai Airways International
  Thai AirAsia
  Royal Thai Air Force
• Trinidad and Tobago
  Caribbean Airlines
  BWIA West Indies Airways
• Tunisia
  Tunisair
• Turkey
  Anadolujet
  Corendon Airlines
  Cyprus Turkish Airlines
  Pegasus Airlines
  Sky Airlines
  SunExpress
  Turkish Airlines
  Tailwind Airlines
• Turkmenistan
  Turkmenistan Airlines
• Ukraine
  Aerosvit
  Dniproavia
  Ukraine International Airlines
  WindRose
  Diproavia
• United Arab Emirates
  Flydubai
• United Kingdom
  AB Airlines * *
  Air Europe
  Air UK Leisure
  Airways International Cymru
  Ambassador Airways
  Astraeus
  Atlantic Airlines
  Bmibaby
  Britannia Airways
  British Airtours
  British Airways
  British World
  Caledonian Airways
  Color Air
  Dan-Air
  Debonair
  EasyJet
  Excalibur Airways
  Flyglobespan
  GB Airways
  Jet2.com
  Inter European Airways
  Maersk Air (UK)
  Monarch Airlines
  Novair International Airways
  Orion Airways
  Paramount Airways
  Sabre Airways
  TEA UK
  Thomsonfly
  Thomson Airways
  Titan Airways
  TNT European
• United States
  AirCal
  Air Florida
  AirTran Airways
  Alaska Airlines
  Aloha Air Cargo
  Aloha Airlines
  America West Airlines
  American Airlines
  American Trans Air
  Braniff Airlines
  Continental Airlines
  Delta Air Lines
  Frontier Airlines
  JetAmerica
  MarkAir
  Miami Air International
  Midway Airlines
  Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA)
  Pan American World Airways
  Peoplexpress Airlines
  Pasto Airways
  Piedmont Airlines
  Presidential Airlines
  Ryan International Airlines
  Southwest Airlines
  Spirit of American Airlines
  Sun Country Airlines
  United Airlines
  US Airways
  Western Airlines
  Wien Air Alaska
• Vanuatu
  Air Vanuatu
• Venezuela
  Avior Airlines
  Conviasa
  Rutaca
  Venezolana
• Vietnam
  Jetstar Pacific
  Pacific Airlines
• Yemen
  Yemenia
• Zimbabwe
  Air Zimbabwe

Accidents and incidents

The Boeing 737 Classic were involved into 26 Hull-loss Accidents with a total of 1050 fatalities as of January 2010. Notable accidents and incidents involving the 737 Classics (-300/-400/-500) include:

• November 23-24, 1985: During the hijacking of EgyptAir Flight 648, a total of 60 people were killed.
• December 25, 1986: During a hijacking attempt on board of Iraqi Airways Flight 163, a total of 63 people were killed when the plane crashed.
• January 8, 1989: Kegworth air disaster: British Midland Flight 92, using a 737-400, crashed outside of East Midlands Airport. Of the 8 crew and 118 passengers, 47 passengers died.
• February 1, 1991: USAir Flight 1493, using a 737-300, collided with a SkyWest Airlines Fairchild Metro III while landing in Los Angeles. All of the 12 people on the Fairchild Metro died while 20 passengers and 2 crew members out of 6 crew members and 83 passengers died on the 737.
• July 26, 1993: Asiana Airlines Flight 733, using a 737-500, crashed into a mountain, killing 68 of 110 occupants.
• September 8, 1994: USAir Flight 427, using a 737-300 with 127 passengers and 5 crew members, lost control after a rudder malfunction and crashed outside of Pittsburgh International Airport, killing everyone on board.
• May 8, 1997: China Southern Airlines Flight 3456, using a 737-300, crashed while landing in Shenzhen, killing 33 of 65 passengers and 2 of 9 crew members.
• December 19, 1997: SilkAir Flight 185, using a 737-300 with 97 passengers and 7 crew members, crashed into a river in Indonesia, killing everyone on board.
• September 16, 1998: Continental Airlines Flight 475, using a 737-500, received windshear while landing in Guadalajara, Mexico. None of the passengers and crew received injuries. The aircraft was written off.
• April 7, 1999: Turkish Airlines Flight 5904, using a 737-400 with six crew members, crashed in Turkey. All of the crew on board died; no passengers flew on that flight.
• March 5, 2000: Southwest Airlines Flight 1455, using a 737-300, overran the runway upon landing in Burbank, California, United States and crashed. All of the passengers and crew survived.
• March 3, 2001: Thai Airways International Flight 114, a 737-400 bound for Chiang Mai from Bangkok, was destroyed by an explosion of the center wing tank resulting from ignition of the flammable fuel/air mixture in the tank. The source of the ignition energy for the explosion could not be determined with certainty, but the most likely source was an explosion originating at the center wing tank pump as a result of running the pump in the presence of metal shavings and a fuel/air mixture. One flight attendant died.
• May 7, 2002: EgyptAir Flight 843, using a 737-500, crashed during approach to Tunis, Tunisia. 3 of 6 crew members and 11 of 56 passengers died.
• January 3, 2004: Flash Airlines Flight 604, using a 737-300 with 135 passengers and 13 crew members, crashed into the Red Sea, killing everyone on board.
• June 9, 2005: 2005 Logan Airport runway incursion - A 737-300 operated by US Airways as US Airways Flight 1170 avoided collision with an Aer Lingus Airbus A330 at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
• August 14, 2005: Helios Airways Flight 522, using a 737-300, suffered a gradual decompression which incapacitated 5 of the 6 crew members and all of the 115 passengers. The plane circled around Greece before crashing into a hill, killing everyone on board.
• October 3, 2006: A man hijacked Turkish Airlines Flight 1476, Boeing 737-400. The aircraft landed in Italy and all of the passengers and crew survived.
• January 1, 2007: Adam Air Flight 574, using a 737-400 with 96 passengers and 6 crew members, crashed off the coast of Sulawesi. the occupants were never found, and were presumed dead.
• February 21, 2007: Adam Air Flight 172, using a 737-300, suffered a structural failure when landing at Juanda International Airport. All of the passengers and crew survived.
• March 7, 2007: Garuda Indonesia Flight 200, using a 737-400, crashed upon landing at Adisucipto International Airport. Out of 133 passengers and 7 crew members, 20 passengers and 1 crew member died.
• September 14, 2008: Aeroflot Flight 821, using an Aeroflot-Nord-operated 737-500, crashed shortly before its scheduled arrival. All 82 passengers and 6 crew members were killed.
• December 20, 2008: Continental Airlines Flight 1404, a 737-500, veered off the runway and caught fire at Denver International Airport during an attempted departure. There were no casualties.
• July 13, 2009: Southwest Airlines Flight 2294 whilst airborne had a football shaped hole appear and made an emergency landing at Charleston, WV. All 131 onboard survived. The cause is still under investigation.
• January 16, 2010: UTair Aviation Boeing 737-500 VQ-BAC departed the runway on landing at Vnukovo International Airport and was substantially damaged when the nosewheel collapsed.
• April 13, 2010: Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836, operated by 737-300 PK-MDE overran the runway at Rendani Airport, Manokwari, Indonesia and broke up in two pieces. All 103 passengers and six crew escaped alive.
• November 2, 2010: Lionair Flight 712, operated by Boeing 737-400 PK-LIQ overran the runway on landing at Supadio Airport, Pontianak, coming to rest on its belly. All 174 passengers and crew evacuated by the emergency chutes, with few injuries reported.

Production numbers

Specifications