Boeing scored a big success with its 737-200 twinjet, which gained popularity across the globe. Matt Falcus looks at the UK operators of this early 737.
In 1967 Boeing was set to release its latest product, the 737, into service. This was an unproven new design that came to market soon after the manufacturer’s popular 727 and few airlines showed much interest prior to its launch. The initial model was the 737-100, a 115-seat variant, that could cover a range of 1,720nm (3,185km) and provided airlines with a smaller, lower-cost alternative to Boeing’s tri-jet.
Thanks to the success of the 727 and with different variants available, airlines that had committed to it were not quick to place orders for the new twinjet. In fact, only Lufthansa and Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) were customers at the aircraft’s launch.
Entry to service of the 737-100 came in February 1968 with Lufthansa, but three years earlier Boeing had begun offering a stretched variant with capacity for up to 136 passengers and a range of 2,300nm (4,260km). United Airlines in particular had asked for this stretch, with the understanding being that an order for 40 examples of this -200 model would be forthcoming.
The first 737-200 was d…
