
The Boeing 737 is a twin-engine narrow-body aircraft that has been in production since 1997. The 737 has undergone several upgrades, including the 737 Classic series and the 737 Next Generation (NG) family. The 737NG features a redesigned wing with a larger area, a wider wingspan, and greater fuel capacity than its predecessor. The most common variant of the 737NG family is the 737-800, which can hold up to 189 passengers and burns approximately 850 US gallons (3,200 L) of jet fuel per hour. The fuel efficiency of the 737-800 is notable, as it burns about 80% of the fuel used by an MD-80 on a comparable flight while carrying more passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | Greater than the 737 Classic |
| Fuel burn per hour | 850 US gallons (3,200 L) or 2.5-3 tons (5,500-6,600 pounds) |
| Fuel burn per seat per hour | 4.88 US gal (18.5 L) |
| Fuel flow per engine | 1231 kg/h |
| Fuel economy per seat | 96 mpg |
| Fuel economy per plane | 0.593 mpg |
| Fuel economy with 50 kt headwind | 0.59 mpg |
| Fuel economy with 50 kt tailwind | 0.73 mpg |
| Range | Longer than the 737 Classic |
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What You'll Learn
- The 737-800 burns 850 US gallons of jet fuel per hour
- The 737NG has greater fuel capacity than the 737 Classic
- The 737-900ER has up to two auxiliary fuel tanks
- The BBJ has extra fuel tanks, increasing its range
- The Boeing 737-800's fuel economy per seat can be calculated by multiplying MPG with the number of seats

The 737-800 burns 850 US gallons of jet fuel per hour
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as 737NG, is a twin-engine narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The 737-800 is the most common variant of the 737NG family.
The 737-800 burns 850 US gallons (3,200 litres) of jet fuel per hour. This is about 80% of the fuel used by an MD-80 on a comparable flight, while carrying more passengers. The Airline Monitor, an industry publication, quotes a 737-800 fuel burn of 4.88 US gallons (18.5 litres) per seat per hour, compared to 5.13 US gallons (19.4 litres) for the A320.
The fuel efficiency of the 737-800 can be seen when comparing it to other aircraft. For example, the Boeing 747-400 burns around 10-11 tons (approximately 22,000-24,000 pounds) of jet fuel per hour, while the Airbus A320 typically burns around 2.5 tons of fuel per hour.
The fuel consumption of the 737-800 can also be calculated in miles per gallon (MPG). For a 737-800 with 162 passengers on a 1000 NM trip, it achieves 96 mpg per passenger, or 0.593 mpg for the whole plane. The density of jet fuel and wind speed are factors that can impact the MPG.
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The 737NG has greater fuel capacity than the 737 Classic
The Boeing 737 is a twin-engine narrow-body aircraft that has evolved into many variants since its launch. The 737NG (Next Generation) is an upgrade of the 737 Classic series, with significant redesigns that offer improved fuel efficiency and range.
The 737NG series includes four variants: the -600, -700, -800, and -900, with improved performance and commonality retained from previous 737 models. The 737NG has a redesigned wing with a 25% larger area, a wider wingspan, and greater fuel capacity than the 737 Classic. The redesigned wing, combined with more efficient engines, increases the 737's range by 900 nautical miles (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) to over 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi). This extended range enables transcontinental flights.
The 737NG's fuel efficiency is further enhanced by the introduction of Split Scimitar winglets, which became available in 2014 for some variants and 2015 for others. These winglets produce up to a 5.5% fuel saving per aircraft compared to the 3.3% savings of the previous blended winglets. Additionally, the 737NG's CFM56-7B Evolution nacelle, introduced in 2009, contributes to improved fuel efficiency.
The 737NG also offers higher maximum takeoff weights (MTOW) than the 737 Classic. The -900ER (Extended Range) variant, which was the final and largest variant of the 737 NG line, includes up to two auxiliary fuel tanks in the cargo hold, further improving its range. The 737NG's increased fuel capacity and efficiency contribute to its ability to serve longer routes and provide transcontinental service.
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The 737-900ER has up to two auxiliary fuel tanks
The Boeing 737 is a popular commercial aircraft used by airlines around the world. The 737-900ER variant is notable for its ability to be used on longer flights compared to other aircraft in its class, such as the A321. One of the key features that enable this is its fuel capacity.
The ability to equip the 737-900ER with auxiliary fuel tanks provides airlines with flexibility in their fleet utilization. Depending on the specific requirements of a route, the aircraft can be configured with the necessary fuel capacity. This adaptability is advantageous for airlines as it allows them to optimize their operations and better utilize their resources.
Additionally, the 737-900ER's ability to be hand-loaded using a belt loader further enhances its versatility. In locations where modern loading equipment may not be readily available or reliable, the option of manual loading ensures that ground handling can still be efficiently carried out. This is especially beneficial in certain regions, such as some third-world countries, where finding able-bodied staff may be more feasible than ensuring operable loading equipment.
The combination of its auxiliary fuel tanks and ease of ground handling makes the 737-900ER a popular choice for airlines operating in regions where infrastructure and resources may vary, such as Africa. By selecting this aircraft, airlines can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and ensure the efficient utilization of their fleet.
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The BBJ has extra fuel tanks, increasing its range
The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) is a version of a Boeing jet airliner with modifications to serve the private, head of state, and corporate jet market. The BBJ name represents any Boeing aircraft modified to serve in a business jet role. The first BBJ, later renamed the BBJ1, was first designed in 1996 as a high-performance derivative of the Boeing 737 Next Generation. The BBJ1 was based on the 737-700 but had additional features, including stronger wings and landing gear from the 737-800.
The BBJ has up to nine auxiliary belly fuel tanks, which extend the aircraft's range to over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi). The number of auxiliary fuel tanks can vary between three and ten. Aviation Partners winglets are also standard on the BBJ, providing a 5% range boost. The BBJ2, a stretched version of the BBJ, offers 25% more cabin capacity but has a slightly reduced range. The BBJ2 was introduced due to the limited baggage space in the cargo hold of the BBJ1, which is occupied by the extra fuel tanks.
The BBJ MAX is an improved version of the original BBJ 737 family, featuring a lower cabin altitude, reduced fuel burn, and an increased range of over 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km). The BBJ MAX achieves this increased range through new CFM LEAP-1B engines, improved aerodynamics, auxiliary fuel tanks, and other systems.
The BBJ series has been successful, with over 260 BBJs delivered since its introduction. The BBJ MAX 9, a more recent variant, offers an even greater range of 6,255 nautical miles, representing a significant enhancement in performance and efficiency.
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The Boeing 737-800's fuel economy per seat can be calculated by multiplying MPG with the number of seats
The Boeing 737-800 is a popular variant of the 737NG (Next Generation) family. It consumes 850 US gallons (3,200 litres) of jet fuel per hour. Ryanair, an Irish airline serving routes across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, operates a fleet of over four hundred 737-800 aircraft.
The fuel economy of an aircraft is influenced by the fuel efficiency of the aircraft and engine model, as well as the airline's efficiency in terms of seating configuration, passenger load factor, and air cargo. The Boeing 737-800 benefits significantly from winglets, which can increase efficiency by up to 10.5%.
To calculate the fuel economy per seat for the Boeing 737-800, we need to consider the number of seats and the miles per gallon (MPG) achieved by the aircraft. The exit limit for a 737-800 is 189 seats. By multiplying the MPG by the number of seats, we can determine the fuel economy per seat. For example, if the aircraft achieves 96 mpg with 162 passengers on a 1000 NM trip, the fuel economy per seat would be 0.593 mpg for the whole plane (96 mpg multiplied by 162 seats).
It is important to note that fuel economy can vary based on factors such as load factors and distances travelled. Additionally, different airlines may have varying seating configurations and passenger load factors, which can impact the fuel economy per seat.
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Frequently asked questions
The amount of jet fuel a 737 can hold depends on the variant. The 737-800 burns 850 US gallons (3,200 litres) of jet fuel per hour. Shorter flights using a 737-800 burn about 2.5-3 tons (5,500-6,600 pounds) per hour.
The 737-800 burns about 80% of the fuel used by an MD-80 on a comparable flight, while carrying more passengers. The Airline Monitor quotes a 737-800 fuel burn of 4.88 US gallons (18.5 litres) per seat per hour, compared to 5.13 US gallons (19.4 litres) for the A320.
For a 737-800 with 162 passengers on a 1000 NM trip, it's 96 mpg per passenger, or 0.593 mpg for the whole plane.
Assuming no wind, the fuel efficiency of the aircraft is 1.51 gallons per mile, or 0.66 MPG. A 50 kt headwind would reduce the ground speed and fuel efficiency to 0.59 MPG, while a 50 kt tailwind would increase it to 0.73 MPG.











































