Boeing 737 Next Generation (737NG)

Design and main characteristics

The 737NG retains the basic fuselage cross‑section and flight deck layout of earlier 737s but incorporates a larger, more efficient wing, upgraded landing gear, modern avionics and more powerful turbofan engines. As a member of the narrow‑body category it is intended for short‑ to medium‑range routes; readers unfamiliar with the class can consult a short description of narrow‑body aircraft here. The engines commonly fitted are the CFM56 family (CFM56‑7B), supplied by CFM International; for notes on propulsion arrangements see twin‑engine configurations.

Variants and capability

The family spans several fuselage lengths and seating capacities. In broad terms:

• 737-600: the smallest member, used where lower capacity and commonality with larger types are priorities.
• 737-700: a short‑to‑medium range workhorse for many flag and low‑cost carriers.
• 737-800: the most numerous variant, balancing capacity and range for high-frequency routes.
• 737-900 (and 900ER): the longest model, intended for higher passenger counts on denser routes.

The interior, systems and pilot interface keep a high degree of commonality with earlier 737 models to reduce training and maintenance costs.

History and development

Boeing launched the Next Generation program to modernize the 737 line without a full redesign. The upgrades were introduced in the 1990s and deliveries continued into the 2010s, during which the NG family became one of the most widely used single‑aisle types. The 737NG succeeded the 737 Classic series; historical comparisons are available at Boeing 737 Classic. Production and sales figures ran into the thousands, with many airlines placing large orders worldwide; for summaries of orders and backlog see commercial orders data.

Operators, uses and market position

The 737NG is ubiquitous among short‑haul and domestic carriers. Major operators have included Southwest Airlines (Southwest) and Ryanair (Ryanair), the latter having built a fleet largely around the 737-800. Its principal competitor throughout its production life was the Airbus A320 family (Airbus A320), which targets similar markets and seating classes. The 737NG served in passenger, cargo and special‑mission roles.

Legacy and successor

The 737NG established operational patterns and fleet commonality that influenced short‑haul air transport for decades. In the 2010s Boeing introduced the 737 MAX as a replacement and successor family, incorporating further aerodynamic and engine advances; for transition details see Boeing 737 MAX. Many NG airframes remain in active service because of their proven reliability and the worldwide infrastructure supporting them.