Boeing 737-500: Specs, Seats, Range & History | ICCJET

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Aircraft encyclopedia · Boeing

Boeing 737-500: Specifications, Range and History

The Boeing 737-500 is the shortest of the 737 Classic family. Designed as a shortened 737-300, it is 31.0 m long, seats 110 to 132 passengers in typical layouts and flies 2,375 nm, farther than the 737-300 or -400.

It first flew on 30 June 1989 and entered service with Southwest Airlines, which took the first delivery on 28 February 1990. Boeing delivered 389; the last went to All Nippon Airways on 21 July 1999.

132
Seats, typical max
2,375 nm
Range
31.0 m
Length
60.6 t
Max takeoff weight
389
Delivered

At a glance

737-500 at a glance

Class Single-aisle airliner, short haul
Best for Short and thin routes, seasonal capacity
Passengers 110 to 132 typical, up to 140
Flight crew 2 pilots
Engines 2 x CFM56-3, 20,000 lbf
Compare with Boeing 737-300 and 737-400, Boeing 737-600

Size

Dimensions

Length 31.0 m (101 ft 9 in)
Wingspan 28.9 m (94 ft 9 in)
Height 11.1 m (36 ft 6 in)
Fuselage width 3.73 m (12 ft 3 in)
Cargo volume 23.3 m³ (882 cu ft)

Range and speed

Performance

Range 2,375 nm (4,398 km)
Cruise speed 427 kn (790 km/h) at 26,000 ft
Service ceiling 37,000 ft
Takeoff distance 2,630 m (8,630 ft)

Weights

Weights

Maximum takeoff weight 60,550 kg (133,500 lb)
Operating empty weight 31,950 kg (70,440 lb)
Fuel capacity 20,100 L (5,311 US gal)

Equipment

Equipment and main systems

What is installed on the 737-500, which other versions exist and where the same equipment flies.

Engines

On the 737-500
2 x CFM56-3, 20,000 lbf (89 kN) each
CFM56-3 family
Powers the whole 737 Classic family, -300, -400 and -500, from 18,500 to 23,500 lbf
Successor
CFM56-7B on the 737 Next Generation, 19,500 to 27,300 lbf

Flight deck

On the 737-500
Built with either an electronic flight instrument system or a mechanical instrument flight deck
737 Classic
The electronic flight instrument system was an option across the Classic family

Fuselage

Cross-section
3.73 m wide, the same on the 737-300, -400 and -500

The 737 Classic family

737-300 33.4 m · 126 to 149 seats · 2,255 nm · CFM56-3, 22,000 lbf
737-400 36.4 m · 147 to 168 seats · 2,060 nm · CFM56-3, 23,500 lbf
737-500 31.0 m · 110 to 132 seats · 2,375 nm · CFM56-3, 20,000 lbf

Equipment and weights vary by serial number, options and later modifications. ICCJET checks the actual configuration of each aircraft.

The cabin

Typical layouts seat 110 to 132 passengers, and up to 140 in a high-density cabin. The lower deck holds 23.3 m³ of cargo.

History

History and production

First flight 30 June 1989
First delivery 28 February 1990, Southwest Airlines
Aircraft delivered 389
Last delivery 21 July 1999, All Nippon Airways
Southwest last revenue flight 5 September 2016
In service 134 aircraft (July 2019)

Rivals

737-500 vs 737-300 and 737-400

737-500

Seats110 to 132
Range2,375 nm
Length31.0 m
Max takeoff weight60.6 t
Thrust, each20,000 lbf

737-300

Seats126 to 149
Range2,255 nm
Length33.4 m
Max takeoff weight62.8 t
Thrust, each22,000 lbf

737-400

Seats147 to 168
Range2,060 nm
Length36.4 m
Max takeoff weight68.0 t
Thrust, each23,500 lbf

Same wing, same fuselage cross-section, same CFM56-3 engine family. The shorter the fuselage, the longer the range: the 737-500 flies the farthest of the three.

Routes

Three nonstop routes in range

Istanbul to Cairo

AirportsIST to CAI
Distance680 nm
Still-air timeabout 1.6 h

Istanbul to London

AirportsIST to LHR
Distance1,340 nm
Still-air timeabout 3.1 h

Astana to Dubai

AirportsNQZ to DXB
Distance1,720 nm
Still-air timeabout 4.0 h

Calculated great-circle distances and still-air times at 427 kn. Real flights depend on winds, payload, routing and fuel reserves. Check any route in the ICCJET Aircraft Route Planner.

FAQ

Boeing 737-500: questions

How many Boeing 737-500s were built?

389, delivered from 1990 to 1999.

How many passengers does a 737-500 carry?

110 to 132 in typical layouts, up to 140.

What is the range of the 737-500?

2,375 nm (4,398 km).

Which engines does the 737-500 use?

Two CFM56-3 turbofans of 20,000 lbf.

What replaced the 737-500?

The 737-600 of the Next Generation family.

Charter

Charter with ICCJET

Need the cabin before you buy one? ICCJET arranges charter of business jets, group airliners and cargo aircraft.

Istanbul

AirportsIST · SAW · ISL

Kazakhstan

AirportsALA · NQZ · CIT · GUW

International

DeparturesWorldwide on request

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Specifications are published reference figures. Individual aircraft vary by configuration and modifications. Page checked 16 October 2026.