Boeing’s 10,000th 737 Makes Headway Down Renton Assembly Line

Boeing’s only in production narrow-body aircraft is celebrating a milestone. Since being put into service in 1967 with Lufthansa, the 737 is now the world’s best selling aircraft. In just a few weeks, the 10,000th 737 will be delivered to Southwest Airlines.

The 10,000th 737 fuselage is moved to the factory’s systems installation area to receive its “guts.” (Photo: Boeing)

Lufthansa received the first 737-100 variant on Dec. 28, 1967. On Dec. 29, United Airlines, the first U.S. airline to take delivery of the new jet, received the first  737-200.

It took two decades for the 737 to become the most ordered aircraft in commercial aviation history. By January 1991, 2,887 737s were on order, including the 737-300, 737-400, and 737-500.

The 10,000th 737 nearing the assembly line in Renton, Wash. (Photo: Boeing)

Today, the 737 program has stood the test of time with new variants coming to the Renton production line, such as the 737-800NG and 737 MAX. On average, 2,440 737 jets are in the air at any given time and one takes off or lands approximately every 1.6 seconds.

The 10,000th 737 gets its wings (Photo: Boeing)

According to Boeing, there are about 27,200 scheduled passenger flights operated by a 737 each day, which would account for roughly a third of all commercial flights around the world. Operating everything from low-cost flights to long-haul transatlantic routes, the 737 family has carried more than 19.9 billion passengers around the world. This is more than double the world’s population.

The 10,000th 737 will go to one of the jet’s most trusted allies. Southwest is one of the few airlines to continuously operate an all-737 fleet since the carrier started operations in 1971.

The 10,000th aircraft, a 737 MAX 8, will soon join Southwest’s fleet as Boeing puts the final touches on the jet in Renton before ferrying it to Boeing Field for flight testing.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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