Which airline was the launch customer for the Boeing 737 in 1967?

Lufthansa was the launch customer for the Boeing 737 in 1967. The German airline placed an order for the new short- to medium-haul jet and introduced it into scheduled service.

The first Boeing 737 variant was the 737-100, a compact twin-engine aircraft designed for routes that did not require the larger Boeing 707. Lufthansa’s first 737-100 entered service in February 1968, helping establish the type in European airline operations.

The 737 family later became one of the most widely used commercial aircraft families in aviation history. Boeing developed many variants, including the 737-200, Classic, Next Generation, and MAX series.

A common mix-up is identifying United Airlines as the launch customer because it became an important early 737 operator. United, however, was not the launch customer; Lufthansa holds that distinction.