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BOEING CUSTOMER CODE AND MODEL NUMBERING SYSTEM

For all models sold beginning with the Boeing 707 in 1957, except the 720, Boeing's naming system for commercial airliners has taken the form of 7X7 (X representing a number). All model designations from 707 through 787 have been assigned, leaving 797 as the only 7X7 model name not assigned to a product.

For model numbers in the 707 to 777 range, the model number consists of an airplane's model number, for example 707 or 747, followed by a dash and three digits that represent the series within the model, for example 707-320 or 747-400. In aviation circles, a more specific model designation is sometimes used where the last two digits of the series designator are replaced by the two digit, alpha-numeric Boeing customer code, for example 747-121, representing a 747-100 originally ordered by Pan American World Airways (Boeing customer code 21) or 737-7H4, representing a 737-700 originally ordered by Southwest Airlines (Boeing customer code H4). Codes do not change for aircraft transferred from one airline to another. Unlike other models, the 787 uses a single digit to designate the series, for example 787-8. This convention was followed in the development of the newest version of the 747, the 747-8, along with the 737 MAX and 777X series.

Additional letters are sometimes appended to the model name as a suffix, including "ER" to designate an "extended range" version, such as the 777-300ER, or "LR" to designate a "long range" version, for example 777-200LR. Other suffix designators include "F" for "freighter" (747-400F), "C" for "convertible" aircraft that can be converted between a passenger and freighter configuration (727-100C) and "M" for "combi" aircraft that are configured to carry both passengers and freight at the same time (757-200M, 747-400M). Passenger aircraft that are originally manufactured as passenger aircraft and later converted to freighter configuration by Boeing carry the suffix "BCF" designating a Boeing converted freighter (747-400BCF).

Unique, fixed Boeing customer codes have been used by Boeing Commercial Airplanes to identify the original customer for an aircraft since the advent of the Boeing 707.

An example would be a Boeing 747-400 ordered by British Airways would be a Boeing 747-436 (36 being the customer code). The codes do not change if the aircraft is subsequently sold as they reflect the original configuration of the aircraft.

Before the 707, Boeing used a generally similar system to identify the presence of detailed variations or options requested by particular customers, but the codes were not customer-specific. A Boeing 377 Stratocruiser built to the requirements of United Air Lines, for instance, was designated a Model 377-10-34. Today, the permanent code denoting United Airlines is 22, not 34.

The order of codes has not been sequential, as the first 707 was designated the 707-120 by Boeing, so the customer codes started at 21:

The following list helps to decipher the original customer of any Boeing commercial aircraft built since the early 1950s. For example, a 737-5H4 is a 737-500 bought by Southwest Airlines while a 747-436 is a 747-400 built for British Airways. The codes remain even if the specific airplane has since been sold to another airline, such as a 757-225 originally built for defunct Eastern Airlines but now operated by Airtours. Note that the list also includes buyers of the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) who are typically corporate operators and not airlines.
 

21 to 99 - First Sequence

01 to 19 - Second Sequence

A0 to Z9 - Third Sequence

1A to 9Z - Fourth Sequence

AA to ZZ - Fifth Sequence

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