Over the past decade, airlines started using the narrow-body Boeing 737 on transatlantic routes. For some carriers this proved unprofitable, for others, 737-800s and the newer 737 MAX 8 are now a regular sight flying across the Atlantic.
Airlines Flying 737s Across the Atlantic
WestJet
The Canadian carrier operates several transatlantic routes with the 737 MAX 8. Notably, flights from Halifax to Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh and Paris, long narrow-body crossings enabled by better fuel efficiency and optimized scheduling, are part of its network.
Air Canada
Air Canada uses the 737 MAX on routes from Eastern Canada (e.g. Toronto, Halifax, St. John’s) to European destinations such as Dublin and London. The flexibility of the MAX allows the carrier to open varied routes without committing wide-body aircraft.
United Airlines
United also has 737 MAX 8s in its fleet and is experimenting with transatlantic routes, for example from Newark to destinations such as the Azores or Madeira (Funchal). While demand is not yet high enough to justify larger jets like the Boeing 757, 737s serve these shoulder-long-haul crossings effectively.
Icelandair
Although the airline does not necessarily cross the entire Atlantic every flight, Icelandair uses its 737s on relatively long legs, up to seven hours, to destinations like parts of the United States. By doing so, the carrier has turned Reykjavík into a major hub for onward North-American connections.
Other interesting operations
- A small airline, ASL Airlines France, flies seasonal services between mainland France and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a small French overseas territory near Newfoundland, using a Boeing 737-700.
- Air Greenland sometimes uses 737-800s (operated by a leasing partner) on flights between Greenland and destinations such as Copenhagen.
- Previously, private-jet / charter operator PrivatAir used specially configured 737-700s for long-haul flights, including charters from Amsterdam to Houston, though the company went bankrupt in 2018.
Why use a narrow-body like the 737 for Transatlantic Flights?
Using a 737 (especially the 737 MAX) for transatlantic service makes sense under several conditions:
- Range: The 737 MAX has a range of around 6,000 km, enough for many North-America ↔ Europe city-pair combinations.
- Efficiency & Economics: Fewer seats but lower fuel burn, ideal for routes with moderate demand, charters, or seasonal traffic rather than full wide-body capacity.
- Fleet Flexibility: Airlines can adjust capacity easily to match demand without committing large aircraft; this is especially useful for smaller markets or when demand is uncertain.
Still, using narrow-body jets like the 737 isn’t a full substitute for larger long-haul aircraft (wide-bodies). Because of limited cabin width and cargo/seat capacity, 737s are best for smaller markets, lighter demand, or when maximizing efficiency matters more than volume. That’s why many airlines use them selectively.
What this means for travelers and industry trends
For passengers, the growing trend of 737-operated transatlantic flights means:
- More direct route options between “secondary” or less common city-pairs.
- Potential for lower fares on routes that don’t justify large wide-body planes.
- Travel on narrow-body cabins on long-haul routes, acceptable for many, but less spacious than typical long-haul wide-body jets.