It is 24 years since the first Boeing 737-600 entered service with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). With that in mind today, we thought we would take a look and see who is still flying Boeing's first Next Generation aircraft in 2022. Before we get into who is still flying the Boeing 737-600, let's first look and see how the plane came into being.

Boeing decided that it needed to update the Boeing 737 after longtime loyal customer, United Airlines, agreed to buy the Airbus A320. The A320 was more technologically advanced than its Boeing rival and came with fly-by-wire controls. In contrast, the Boeing 737 was slower and had a lesser range than the new European offering.

SAS was the launch customer for the Boeing 737-600

This prompted Boeing to reevaluate the 737 and start work on a more modern variant that would be called the Boeing 737NG (Next Generation). The first of these new aircraft would be designated as being Boeing 737-600s with SAS the launch customer taking delivery of its first 737-600 in September 1998. Since then, a total of 69 Boeing 737-600s have been built, with the last being delivered to Canada's WestJet in 2006. In total Calgary-based WestJet took delivery of 13 Boeing 737-600s, all of which aviation statistics and data website ch-aviation lists as being in long-term storage.

a SAS Scandinavian Airlin
Photo: Getty Images

In December 1997, Southwest Airlines took delivery of the new slightly larger Boeing 737-700 as a replacement for its Boeing 737-300s. When configured in an all-economy layout, the plane is capable of accomodating 149 passengers.

AECOM Federal Services

When looking once more at ch-aviation data, we see that AECOM Federal Services holds six Boeing 737-600 aircraft with the following registration numbers:

  • N273RH
  • N288DP
  • N319BD
  • N365SR
  • N859WP
  • N869HH

With its fleet located at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), AECOM Federal Services operates a highly classified passenger aircraft fleet utilized for the United States Department of the Air Force. Often referred to as its call sign Janet or Janet Airlines, the aircraft are used to transport military personal and civilian contractors. Due to its secretive nature, the airline operates from a private terminal in Las Vegas. It is only identifiable by a single red stripe painted along the windows to make the planes resemble commercial airliners.

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Air Algérie and Tunisair

Air Algerie Boeing 737-600 getty
Air Algérie needs to replace older aircraft, such as its five Boeing B737-600s, which are more than 20 years old. Photo: Getty Images

100% owned by the government of Algeria, Air Algérie is the national flag carrier of Algeria. Operating out of Houari Boumedienne Airport (ALG) in the nation's capital, Air Algérie flies to 39 destinations in 28 countries. Air Algérie has a fleet of 55 aircraft that includes five Boeing 737-600s with the following registrations:

  • 7T-VJQ
  • 7T-VJR
  • 7T-VJS
  • 7T-VJT
  • 7T-VJU

Tunisair

Société Tunisienne de l'Air, or Tunisair, is the national flag carrier of Tunisia and is 74% owned by the Tunisian government. The airline operates out of Tunis–Carthage International Airport (TUN), from where it flies to destinations in Europe and Africa. It has a fleet of 30 aircraft, of which, two are listed as being active Boeing 737-600s with the following registrations:

  • TS-IOK
  • TS-ION

When is the last time you can remember flying on a Boeing 737-660? If you can recollect, please tell us about it in the comments.