Inflight South African Airways Boeing 737-200 ZS-SBL PONGOLA

The original 737-200s

According to Planespotters.net, South African Airways has operated 53 aircraft from the extensive Boeing 737 portfolio over the years. Of these, the first and most popular variant was the 737-200, from Boeing's so-called '737 Original' series.

SAA flew a total of 29 737-200s, which it acquired to replace the likes of the Vickers Viscount and the Boeing 727. Among these aircraft were two cargo-carrying 737-200s, which, as we shall see, also set a precedent for SAA using later 737 variants to carry freight. Meanwhile, the 27 passenger examples featured 20 business class seats and 87 in economy class.

All in all, SAA operated examples of the 737-200 for a period spanning some 45 years! Having received its first 737-200 in 1968, it did not dispose of its last until 2013. It even took eight deliveries of (second-hand) 737-200s during the 2000s.

Scale: 1:200