Description:
The Boeing 737 is a popular, twin-engine, short- to medium-range airplane renowned by its reliability, simplicity and low maintenance and operating costs. The first 737, a 737-100 model, was delivered to Lufthansa in 1968. Since then, more than 5,200 737s have been ordered by airlines all over the world.
Wing tip extensions, called Winglets, have been added to the Next Generation 737 wing layout to extend range, increase payload and to save fuel. Winglets have been applied only to 737-700 and 737-800 models. Each Winglet is 8-ft long (2.44 meters) and 4-ft (1.22 meters) in width.
The Boeing 737-700 airplane has the same fuselage as the 737-300 and fitted with new wing, tail sections and stabilizer. It can carry from 126 to 149 passengers in a two-class or one-class arrangement. It is powered by two fuel efficient and low noise CFM56-7 engines and travels at a cruise speed of Mach 0.785 for over 3,300 nautical miles.
The first Boeing 737-700 was delivered to Southwest in 1998. More than 2,240 Next Generation 737s have been ordered to date.
The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) is a 737-700 delivered without any interior furnishings. The customer can install specific interior configurations and the resulting aircraft performs and has some commonalty, such as the landing gear, with the 737-800 model. As of September 2005, Boeing had received orders for 98 BBJs since 1996 with 78 aircraft already in service in 2004.
On September 1, 2004, Air China ordered seven Boeing 737-700s powered by CFM56-7 engines with deliveries beginning in November 2005 and extended through mid-2006. This deal was reported to be worth $360 million.
On September 9, 2004, Panama's Copa Airlines ordered two Boeing 737-700s to be delivered in 2006 as well as a 737-700 and a 737-800 from leasing companies. Aeromexico also ordered eight 737-700 jetliners from Boeing and two additional aircraft from leasing companies totaling 10 737-700s.
On January 12, 2005, Boeing and Bavaria International Aircraft Leasing (BIAL) have reached an agreement for six more Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 airplanes valued at $330 million at list prices. BIAL took options on four additional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2005 and will continue through 2007.
Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines placed an order for 15 Boeing Next-Generation 737-700/800 airplanes worth $750 million on 25 April 2005. Five aircraft were labeled firm orders and the other 10 options with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2007 through 2009.
On May 10, 2005, GECAS purchased six Boeing 737-700s valued at $330 million to lease them to Sky Europe Slovakia-based carrier along with other six 737-700s owned by GECAS. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2006 and be complete by 2007.
In May 2005, Boeing made public that the BBJ and BBJ2 jets won orders and commitments for 97 airplanes since the project's inception in 1996. The BBJ won orders for 83 airplanes and the BBJ2 won the remaining 14.
On 14 June 2005, International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) placed an order for 20 Boeing Next-Generation 737-700s/-800s, six 777-300ERs, and two 777-200ERs. All together were valued at $2.9 billion. The Boeing 737 airplanes were slated for delivery during 2008 and the 777s deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2006 extending into 2008.
TAAG Angola Airlines and Boeing made public an agreement for the purchase of two Boeing 777-200ER airplanes and four 737-700s valued at $650 million on 18 July 2005. The agreement included options for one additional 777-200ER and two 737-700s that could add up to $340 million to the final contract value. The firm order aircraft were planned to be delivered throughout 2006 beginning in July.
On 20 July 2005, Slovakia-based SkyEurope Airlines placed an order for four Boeing 737-700s including purchase rights on 16 additional airplanes. The firm order aircraft were valued at $220 million. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2006. On 29 June 2006, the carrier converted five options into firm order airplanes which were planned for delivery in 2008. The new airplanes were valued at $295 million.
On 2 November 2005 Boeing and Ariana Afghan Airlines finalized a fleet renewal agreement which included the lease of two Boeing 757-200s from Boeing Capital and the direct purchase of four B737-700 airplanes. The 737-700s were scheduled for delivery beginning in 2009.
In early November 2005 Boeing announced that the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) program had sold 102 aircraft of which 89 aircraft were BBJ and the remaining 13 were BBJ2 airplanes. On the customer's profile, Boeing said 40 percent were private individuals, 36 percent government heads of state, 14 percent corporate operators and 10 percent were charter operators.
On February 1st, 2006 Aeromexico signed with Boeing for six Next Generation Boeing 737 airliners worth $372 million. Three 737-700s and three 737-800s were scheduled for delivery to the Mexican carrier in 2007.
On April 11, 2006 Boeing announced that achieved an agreement with China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group for 80 Boeing 737 Next-Generation airplanes.
On 20 April 2006 Southwest Airlines converted options into firm orders for 79 Boeing 737-700 airplanes worth $4.5 billion. Aircraft deliveries were expected to start in 2007 and will continue until 2012. In Parallel Southwest Airlines announced the selection of the CFM56-7B engine to power its newest 79 Boeing 737-700 airplanes. The engine contract was valued at $1 billion.
On April 28, 2006 Atlanta- and Orlando-based AirTran Airways placed an order for 24 Boeing 737-700 airplanes valued at $1.3 billion. The low-cost carrier exercised 14 options from a previous and ordered ten new aircraft. The 737 options were scheduled to be delivered in 2008 and the remaining ten aircraft in 2010.
On May 2, 2006 Boeing announced that had won six new orders for its Business Jet totaling 108 aircraft since the program's launch. All in Boeing has sold 95 BBJ and 13 BBJ 2 jets. In parallel, Boeing announced the chance of developing Convertible Cargo 737-700 variant called the 737-700C that would include the BBJ fuselage configuration and the landing gear and wings of the 737-800. The newest 737-700C model was targeted at governmental operators and entrepreneurs.
In November 2005, Boeing and China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group agreed on the sale of 150 Next-Generation 737 airplanes worth $10 billion and scheduled for delivery between 2006 and 2010. The order was definitized on 14 September 2006 as follows: Air China ordered 25 737-800s; China Eastern Airlines 14 737-700s and 6 737-800s; China Southern Airlines 12 737-700s and 18 737-800s; Hainan Airlines 25 737-800s; Shandong Airlines 12 737-800s; Shangai Airlines 3 737-700s and 10 737-800s; Shenzhen Airlines 10 737-800s; and Xiamen Airlines 15 737-800s.
On 14 November 2006, Boeing and Aeromexico announced a new order for two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and 10 more Boeing 737-700s. The two Dremaliners will be delivered in 2011 while the 737s are due in 2010.
As of May 2007, Boeing had sold 107 BBJs, 15 BBJ 2s, and three BBJ 3s.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 2, Passengers 149
Dimensions: Height 12.5 m, Length 33.6 m, Wingspan 34.3 m
Weights: Max Weight 70,307 kg (154,998 lb), Min Weight 37,648 kg (82,998 lb), Payload 17,554 kg (38,699 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 54,600 lb (24,767 kg)
Performance: Max Range 6,225 km (3,361 nm), Top Speed 261 mps (Mach 0.79)
Afghanistan / 4 
Angola / 4 
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Aircraft ordered by China Southern Airlines
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Germany
Greece
India
Japan
Kenya
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
Aircraft ordered by KLM (10)
Nigeria / 2 
Norway
Oman
Panama
Russia / 4 
Aircraft ordered by Atlant-Soyuz (4)
Slovakia
Switzerland
Turkmenistan / 1 
Aircraft ordered by Turkmenistan Airlines (1)
United Kingdom
United States of America
Aircraft ordered by CIT Aerospace (5); Aviation Capital Group (30)