Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express all operate Boeing 737 family aircraft. Akasa flies the 737 MAX 8 and the higher-capacity 737 MAX 8-200. Air India Express has flown the 737-800 and the 737 MAX 8. SpiceJet operates 737 variants too. To check your own flight, look at the aircraft type on the booking or flight status page, remembering that airlines can swap aircraft.
Updated November 2026 · HappyFares
Plenty of travellers care which aircraft they board, whether for seat layout, cabin feel or simple curiosity. This guide covers which Indian airlines fly the Boeing 737 and how to find the aircraft type before you pay.
Which Indian airlines fly the Boeing 737?
Three Indian passenger airlines are known for their Boeing 737 operations: Akasa Air, SpiceJet and Air India Express.
- Akasa Air: an all-Boeing airline built around the 737 MAX family. A news report dated 2 September 2026 describes Akasa taking another Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 into its fleet at Navi Mumbai International Airport on 1 September.
- Air India Express: fleet listings show the Boeing 737-800 and the Boeing 737 MAX 8, alongside Airbus A320 family aircraft.
- SpiceJet: flies Boeing 737 aircraft, and reports from June 2026 say it returned a grounded 737 MAX to commercial service. It also operates Q400 turboprops.
We have deliberately not listed fleet counts. Those numbers change as aircraft arrive, retire, go for maintenance or move between airlines, and the airlines’ own pages are the right place for a current figure.
Does Air India itself fly the 737?
We could not confirm a current Boeing 737 operation for Air India’s mainline fleet, so we are not listing it. Since Air India and Air India Express belong to the same group, the safest approach is to check the aircraft type shown for your specific flight number rather than assume from the brand name.
What is the difference between 737-800, 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 8-200?
All three belong to Boeing’s narrow-body 737 family, with a single aisle and seats arranged three on each side.
- 737-800: part of the earlier “Next Generation” 737 line.
- 737 MAX 8: the newer MAX generation of the same family.
- 737 MAX 8-200: a MAX 8 configured for more seats, which is why airlines use it on high-demand routes.
From the passenger side, the shared single-aisle layout means the broad experience is similar. Differences show up in seat count, cabin fit-out and airline-specific seat choices rather than in the model name alone.
How do I find the aircraft type before I book?
There is no single place, but these steps work in most cases:
- Search results and booking details: many flight listings show the aircraft type next to the flight number. If yours does not, open the flight details.
- Airline flight status page: enter the flight number and date. The scheduled equipment is often shown.
- Seat map: the seat map you see during seat selection reflects the aircraft layout planned for the flight.
- Type codes: schedules use short IATA codes. 738 is the Boeing 737-800 (73H is a winglet variant of it), and 7M8 is the 737 MAX 8.
On your boarding pass, the aircraft type is usually not printed. The gate screen, airline app and flight status page are better sources on the day.
If aircraft type matters to you, treat it as a preference rather than a promise. The airline decides which aircraft operates each flight, and the plan for a flight three months away is often less firm than the plan for tomorrow. The closer you are to departure, the more reliable the aircraft type shown on the flight status page tends to be.
Can the airline change the aircraft after I book?
Yes. Airlines routinely swap aircraft for operational reasons such as maintenance, crew availability or demand, and this is a normal practice rather than a sign of a problem. A swap can change the seat map, and sometimes seat numbers. If you chose a specific seat, check your booking a day before travel and again at web check-in, which costs nothing on Indian airlines.
A small aviation fact: the 737 has been in production since the 1960s, and the family has had several generations since, which is why “737” alone does not tell you which version you are flying.
Common Questions
Which Indian airline flies only Boeing aircraft?
Akasa Air operates the Boeing 737 MAX family. Check the airline’s own fleet page for its current make-up.
Does Air India Express fly Boeing 737s?
Yes. Fleet listings show it has flown the 737-800 and the 737 MAX 8, along with Airbus A320 family aircraft.
Does SpiceJet fly the 737 MAX?
SpiceJet operates Boeing 737 aircraft, and June 2026 reports say it returned a grounded 737 MAX to commercial service. Which of its aircraft operates your flight can vary.
Can I choose a Boeing 737 when booking?
Not directly. You choose a flight and the airline assigns the aircraft. You can only filter by checking the aircraft type shown for each flight.
Is there a fee for web check-in or airport check-in?
Checking in is free on Indian airlines, both on the web and at the airport.
Will the seat map change if the aircraft changes?
It can. Recheck your seat before travel, especially if you picked one for legroom or an aisle.
Compare flights across airlines on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, and set a price alert on the route you fly most.
Airline fleets and schedules change. Verify current aircraft types and rules with the airline, DGCA or the airport before you travel.
