Skip to main content

Boeing · ICAO B38M

Boeing 737 MAX 8

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the mid-size member of the 737 MAX family and carries the ICAO type designator B38M. Boeing's technical documents call it the 737-8. It was the first MAX model delivered, and it pairs the familiar 737 fuselage with CFM LEAP-1B engines and split-tip winglets.

Manufacturer
Boeing
ICAO type code
B38M
Engine type
Jet

Live Boeing 737 MAX 8 tracking

Live tracking for this aircraft type is not available on this page yet.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight statistics

Flight statistics for this aircraft type are not available yet. Aircraft specifications below describe the model, not current flight activity.

About the Boeing 737 MAX 8

The 737 MAX followed the Next-Generation 737. Boeing delivered the first MAX 8 to Malindo Air on May 16, 2017. Delivery and entry into passenger service are different milestones, and an airline can configure its aircraft before starting scheduled flights.

Within the family, the MAX 8 sits between the shorter 737 MAX 7 and the longer MAX 9 and MAX 10. According to Boeing, the 737-8 is 39.5 m (129 ft 6 in) long, has a wingspan of 35.9 m (117 ft 10 in) and a maximum takeoff weight of 82,640 kg (182,200 lb), with a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km). All four MAX models share the same wingspan and height, so fuselage length is what sets them apart.

The only engine offered is the CFM International LEAP-1B, whose nacelles carry a chevron trailing edge that Boeing took from the 787.

Seating capacity and cabin layout

Layouts vary by airline, so these figures are ranges rather than a fixed number.

  • Boeing lists 160 to 180 seats for the 737-8 in a two-class layout.
  • Boeing gives the maximum seat count for the 737-8 as 210.
  • Airlines select their own seating layouts, including the number of premium seats and the spacing between rows.

The published maximum is not the capacity of every MAX 8. For example, Ryanair lists 197 seats for its 737 MAX 8200 configuration.

How to recognize a Boeing 737 MAX 8

The engines, wingtips and fuselage proportions provide clues when comparing a MAX 8 with other 737s. No single wingtip shape is sufficient to identify the exact model.

  • Advanced Technology winglets: each wingtip has an upper and a lower element. Some older 737NG aircraft have Split Scimitar winglets with a lower blade as well, so an upward and downward tip does not by itself establish that an aircraft is a MAX.
  • LEAP-1B engines with chevrons: the nacelles end in a sawtooth trailing edge borrowed from the 787.
  • Length: at 39.5 m the MAX 8 is 3.9 m longer than the MAX 7, 2.6 m shorter than the MAX 9 and 4.3 m shorter than the MAX 10.

The MAX 8 and the 737-800 are almost exactly the same length. Compare several features together and check a reliable aircraft record for the registration to confirm the model.

Variants and related aircraft

The ICAO designator B38M covers the Boeing 737 MAX 8, which Boeing lists as the 737-8. The FAA lists the high-density 737-8200 under the same B38M code as the MAX 8. The BBJ MAX 8 business jet is also based on the 737 MAX 8.

The other MAX models have their own codes: B37M for the 737 MAX 7, B39M for the 737 MAX 9 and B3XM for the 737 MAX 10. The previous-generation 737-800 is listed separately as B738.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and the 737-800?

The 737-800 belongs to the earlier 737 Next Generation and carries the code B738, while the MAX 8 is its later-generation successor coded B38M. The MAX 8 adds LEAP-1B engines with chevron nacelles and split-tip winglets, and the two are nearly identical in length.

Is the Boeing 737-8 the same aircraft as the 737 MAX 8?

Yes. Boeing uses 737-8 in its specifications and certification documents, while 737 MAX 8 is the marketing name used by airlines and in ICAO's designator list. Both refer to the same type under the code B38M.

Sources

Aircraft information reviewed on . Airline configurations can change.

Browse all aircraft types