Lufthansa operated the Boeing 737’s first scheduled passenger service in 1968. The German airline introduced the type on 10 February 1968, using a Boeing 737-100 on a flight from Frankfurt to Hamburg.
The 737 was developed as a smaller, shorter-range companion to Boeing’s 707 and 727. Its compact size and two-engine layout made it well suited to frequent regional and short-haul routes, where airlines needed efficient aircraft with quick turnarounds.
Lufthansa was the launch customer for the original 737-100, while United Airlines became the launch customer for the larger 737-200. These early versions preceded later generations such as the 737 Classic, Next Generation, and 737 MAX.
The 737’s first commercial operation is sometimes confused with the first flight of the type. Boeing’s prototype first flew in April 1967, but scheduled passenger service began only after certification and airline preparation in 1968.