Which airlines fly the 737 MAX 8?

We've documented 19 airlines operating the 737 MAX 8, each with its own generated seat map below — the cabin you get depends entirely on which airline and which specific configuration they fly.

What's the economy seat pitch on the 737 MAX 8?

It varies by airline — from 28in to 31in among the operators we've measured. See the comparison table below for the exact figure per airline.

Does the cabin layout on the 737 MAX 8 differ by airline?

Yes, significantly. Airlines configure the same airframe with completely different seat counts, classes and pitches — this page groups every configuration we've documented by airline so you can compare the real differences rather than assume one layout fits all.

Who makes the 737 MAX 8, and what family is it part of?

Boeing builds the 737 MAX 8, part of the 737 family — a 3530mm-wide fuselage that every operator's cabin layout has to fit within.

I flew this aircraft and the layout looked different — what do I do?

Tell us. Airlines retrofit cabins constantly and different registrations of the same type can carry different cabins. Email corrections@bestplaneseats.com with the airline, flight number, date and what you actually saw.

737 MAX 8

Boeing

Last verified 7 September 2026

We've documented 19 airlines flying the 737 MAX 8 across 24 cabin configurations, built by Boeing as part of the 737 family. Total seat count ranges from 154 to 197 depending on how densely an airline configures it. Its fuselage is 3530mm wide — the fixed physical constraint every airline's cabin layout has to work within, regardless of how they configure the inside.

Economy pitch on this type ranges from 28in to 31in depending on the airline — a real, measurable difference in legroom for the exact same aircraft. 4 of these airlines fly more than one cabin layout on this same aircraft type — check which one applies to your specific flight before assuming. 8 of 24 configurations here are verified directly against the operating airline's own published material.

Best and worst seats by airline

On Air Canada's Air Canada Rouge Business and Economy, 177-seat 737 MAX 8 (J/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 1C (next to galley) and 1D (next to galley).
On Air Canada's Business and Economy, 169-seat cabin (J/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 1C (next to galley) and 1D (next to galley).
On Air Canada's All-Economy 737 MAX 8, 189-seat cabin (Y/Y), worth avoiding: 32C (seat doesn't recline) and 32D (seat doesn't recline).
On American Airlines' First and Main Cabin, two-class domestic (F/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 30A (seat doesn't recline) and 30B (seat doesn't recline).
On Ethiopian Airlines' Cloud Nine and Economy on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (J/Y), worth avoiding: 1B (next to galley) and 1C (next to galley).
On Icelandair's Saga Premium and Economy on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (J/Y), worth avoiding: 27C (seat doesn't recline) and 27D (seat doesn't recline).
On Jeju Air's All-Economy 189-seat cabin (Jeju's "7E") (Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 1C (next to galley) and 1A (next to galley).
On Jeju Air's Business Lite and Economy, 174 seats (Jeju's "7B") (J/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 1C (next to galley) and 1D (next to galley).
On LOT Polish Airlines' LOT Business Class and Economy Class, 186 seats, original interior (J/Y), worth avoiding: 1C (no underseat storage) and 1D (no underseat storage).
On Norwegian Air Shuttle's Standard Economy, single class (Y/Y), worth avoiding: 2C (next to lavatory) and 2D (next to lavatory).
On Oman Air's Business and Economy Class, two-class Boeing 737 MAX 8 (J/Y), worth avoiding: 3B (seat doesn't recline) and 3C (seat doesn't recline).
On Qantas' Business and Economy, 737-8 two-class (162 seats) (J/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 1C (next to galley) and 1D (next to galley).
On Royal Air Maroc's Business and Economy, standard configuration (12C/144Y) (J/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 1B (next to galley) and 1C (next to galley).
On Ryanair's Gamechanger, single class (Y/Y), worth avoiding: 33B (seat doesn't recline) and 33C (seat doesn't recline).
On Singapore Airlines Cargo's Business and Economy, regional two-class (J/J/J/Y), worth avoiding: 14C (seat doesn't recline) and 14H (seat doesn't recline).
On Southwest Airlines' All-Economy with assigned & premium seating (2026) (Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 2C (next to galley) and 2D (next to galley).
On SunExpress' All-economy cabin on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (737-8) (Y/Y), worth avoiding: 2C (next to lavatory) and 2D (next to lavatory).
On United Airlines' United Next domestic interior, three-class (F/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 4B (seat doesn't recline) and 4C (seat doesn't recline).
On Virgin Australia's Business and Economy, with Economy X and Preferred seating (J/Y/Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 2C (seat doesn't recline) and 2D (seat doesn't recline).
On WestJet's Premium and Economy, 174 seats (WestJet's "layout 1") (W/W/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 12C (seat doesn't recline) and 12D (seat doesn't recline).
On WestJet's Premium and Economy, 174 seats, fixed-recline cabin (WestJet's "layout 2") (W/W/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 12C (seat doesn't recline) and 12D (seat doesn't recline).
On Xiamen Airlines' Business and Economy, 174 seats (Xiamen Air Layout B) (J/Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 12C (seat doesn't recline) and 12J (seat doesn't recline).
On Xiamen Airlines' All-Economy, 184 seats (Xiamen Air Layout A) (Y/Y/Y), worth avoiding: 71C (seat doesn't recline) and 71J (seat doesn't recline).

Economy pitch comparison

Airline	Configuration	Economy pitch
TUI Airways	Standard Economy, single class	28in
Air Canada	Air Canada Rouge Business and Economy, 177-seat 737 MAX 8	29in
Air Canada	All-Economy 737 MAX 8, 189-seat cabin	29in
Air Canada	Business and Economy, 169-seat cabin	30in
American Airlines	First and Main Cabin, two-class domestic	30in
Norwegian Air Shuttle	Standard Economy, single class	30in
Oman Air	Business and Economy Class, two-class Boeing 737 MAX 8	30in
Qantas	Business and Economy, 737-8 two-class (162 seats)	30in
United Airlines	United Next domestic interior, three-class	30in
WestJet	Premium and Economy, 174 seats (WestJet's "layout 1")	30in
WestJet	Premium and Economy, 174 seats, fixed-recline cabin (WestJet's "layout 2")	30in
Xiamen Airlines	Business and Economy, 174 seats (Xiamen Air Layout B)	30in
Xiamen Airlines	All-Economy, 184 seats (Xiamen Air Layout A)	30in
Icelandair	Saga Premium and Economy on the Boeing 737 MAX 8	31in
Southwest Airlines	All-Economy with assigned & premium seating (2026)	31in

Operators

Air Canadaversion lottery — 3 configs

Jeju Airversion lottery — 2 configs

LOT Polish Airlines

LOT Business Class and Economy Class, 186 seats, original interior J/YProvisional data

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Standard Economy, single class Y/YDerived data

Oman Air

Business and Economy Class, two-class Boeing 737 MAX 8 J/YProvisional data

Qantas

Business and Economy, 737-8 two-class (162 seats) J/Y/YVerified data

Royal Air Maroc

Business and Economy, standard configuration (12C/144Y) J/Y/YDerived data

Ryanair

Gamechanger, single class Y/YDerived data

Singapore Airlines Cargo

Business and Economy, regional two-class J/J/J/YProvisional data

Southwest Airlines

All-Economy with assigned & premium seating (2026) Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/YProvisional data

SunExpress

All-economy cabin on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (737-8) Y/YProvisional data

TUI Airways

Standard Economy, single class Y/YProvisional data

United Airlines

United Next domestic interior, three-class F/Y/YProvisional data

Virgin Australia

Business and Economy, with Economy X and Preferred seating J/Y/Y/Y/YVerified data

WestJetversion lottery — 2 configs

Xiamen Airlinesversion lottery — 2 configs

Frequently asked

Which airlines fly the 737 MAX 8?: We've documented 19 airlines operating the 737 MAX 8, each with its own generated seat map below — the cabin you get depends entirely on which airline and which specific configuration they fly.
What's the economy seat pitch on the 737 MAX 8?: It varies by airline — from 28in to 31in among the operators we've measured. See the comparison table below for the exact figure per airline.
Does the cabin layout on the 737 MAX 8 differ by airline?: Yes, significantly. Airlines configure the same airframe with completely different seat counts, classes and pitches — this page groups every configuration we've documented by airline so you can compare the real differences rather than assume one layout fits all.
Who makes the 737 MAX 8, and what family is it part of?: Boeing builds the 737 MAX 8, part of the 737 family — a 3530mm-wide fuselage that every operator's cabin layout has to fit within.
I flew this aircraft and the layout looked different — what do I do?: Tell us. Airlines retrofit cabins constantly and different registrations of the same type can carry different cabins. Email corrections@bestplaneseats.com with the airline, flight number, date and what you actually saw.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report a correction.