Which was the first airline to operate the Boeing 737?

The Boeing 737 has been flying in commercial service for over 50 years. All four airlines listed in the answer options were early adopters of this aircraft type, but Lufthansa was the first.

The initial model of the aircraft was designated the 737-100. It had its first flight in April 1967 and entered commercial service in February 1968. To date (2020) the -100 is the smallest of the many variants of the 737.

Lufthansa received its first aircraft on 28 December 1967 and on 10 February 1968 became the first non-American airline to launch a new Boeing aircraft. Lufthansa was the only significant customer to purchase the 737-100 and only 30 aircraft of this variant were ever produced. The final commercial delivery took place in October 1969 to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines.

Although the Boeing 737 aircraft type continues to be widely used, there are no -100 models still in commercial service. The original Boeing prototype (pictured in the photograph) was retired more than 30 years after its maiden flight and is exhibited in the Museum of Flight in Seattle.