Boeing 737: Which airlines use the planes and is it safe to fly on one?

FLYING is the safest mode of transport, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

But with a number of reported incidents with the Boeing 737, we investigate whether they’re safe to fly on and which airlines use the model.

Is it safe to fly on a Boeing 737 plane?

With one accident in every 1.26million flights, “Flying is the safest mode of transport” according to the IATA.

“At this level of safety, on average a person would have to travel by air every day for 103,239 years to experience a fatal accident,” the industry body added.

For the sake of comparison, there were 158 worldwide deaths from aviation accidents in 2022, with more than 65,000 dying on roads in the UK, US and EU in the same year. 

But there is growing public concern over the safety of Boeing 737 airplanes.

In his 2021 book Flying Blind: The 737 Max Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing, Peter Robison wrote: “There were 41 total accidents (including non-fatal ones) in 2018, and 18 of those involved the 737 — more than the number for any other airplane.

“The Airbus A320 and variants had four — even though the number of planes in service was similar for each model.”

Boeing 737 Max jets were grounded around the world between March 2019 and November 2020 following two fatal crashes involving the Max 8 model.

On October 29, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea shortly after take off.

All 181 passengers and eight crew on board were killed. 

And on March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed not long after take off.

Everyone on board died which included eight crew and 149 passengers.

Both of these tragedies were attributed in part to the aircrafts’ manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) — software designed to improve the planes’ stability.

Following a lengthy investigation and recertification process, which included making changes to the design and software, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) all deemed Boeing 737 Max jets to be safe to re-enter service.

There hasn’t been an issue involving the MCAS since, but Boeing has been forced to pause production and delay the delivery Max series aeroplanes due to various production issues.

Although there have been issues with other 737 models, thankfully none of these resulted in fatalities.

On the morning of May 9, 2024, 78 passengers were forced to flee a burning Boeing 737 Transair flight after it skidded off the runway — the aircraft reportedly experienced a hydraulic issue before the problematic landing at Blaise Diagne Airport, Dakar, Senegal.

Later the same day, a United Airlines Boeing 737 with 50 passengers on board was forced into an emergency landing minutes after takeoff.

Which airlines use Boeing 737 planes?

Based on statements from the FAA and Boeing, EASA said it “wasn’t aware” of any of its member airlines operating the grounded variation of the Boeing 737 Max 9.

EASA said: “In the specific set-up covered by the EAD, a mid-cabin exit is replaced by a plug-in panel.

“This configuration is typically adopted by airlines flying lower-density operations (with lower passenger capacity) where this additional exit is not required to meet evacuation safety requirements.

“The 737-9 aircraft operating in Europe do not have this configuration and are therefore not grounded by the EAD and can continue to operate normally.”

According to Cirium Fleets Analyzer, the following airlines currently have this many Boeing 737 Max 9 planes as part of their fleet:

• United Airlines: 79
• Alaska Airlines: 65
• Copa Airlines: 29
• Aeromexico: 19
• Turkish Airlines: 5
• SCAT: 5
• Icelandair: 4
• Lion Air: 3
• Flydubai: 3

Out of 500+ planes, Ryanair’s fleet is made up various types of 737, with hundreds more on order.

TUI’s fleet contains 21 of the 737 Max 8, and 30 of the 737-800.

Of Jet2’s fleet of 112 aircraft, 99 are 737s.

What has Boeing said about their 737 planes?

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun addressed the company’s employees in January 2024 at a meeting at its factory in Renton, Washington, saying the manufacturer must acknowledge “our mistake”.

This came after a 737 Max 9’s cabin panel blew off during an Alaska Airlines flight earlier in the month.

The incident occurred as the jet climbed following takeoff from Portland, Oregon, en route to Ontario, California, on January 5.

Mr Calhoun said: “We’re going to approach this – number one – acknowledging our mistake.

“We’re going to approach it with one hundred per cent and complete transparency every step of the way.”

Dozens of Max 9 planes were grounded awaiting inspection following the incident.

Boeing followed up by saying: “We continue to be in close contact with our customers and the FAA on the required inspections.

“As part of the process, we are making updates based on their feedback and requirements.”

In March 2024, Boeing told CNN: “Every day, more than 80 airlines operate about 5,000 flights with the global fleet of 1,300 737 MAX airplanes, carrying 700,000 passengers to their destinations safely. 

“The 737 MAX family’s in-service reliability is above 99 per cent and consistent with other commercial airplane models.”