easyJet’s Early 737 Fleets: Where Are They Now?

When people think of easyJet today, they picture a vast orange-branded Airbus fleet criss-crossing Europe with relentless frequency. But long before the airline became one of the continent’s dominant low-cost carriers, its rise was powered not by Airbus aircraft — but by a small and distinctive fleet of early-generation Boeing 737s.

In its formative years, easyJet relied on the Boeing 737-200 and later the 737-300, aircraft that helped define the airline’s no-frills, high-utilisation approach during the low-cost boom of the 1990s. These jets may now be long gone from the flight schedules, but they played a crucial role in turning a startup airline into a European aviation powerhouse.

This article looks back at those early 737 fleets — and asks a question aviation enthusiasts often wonder about: where are those aircraft now? Which airframes survived, and what became of the jets that launched one of Europe’s most successful airlines?

From Startup to Low-Cost Giant

Early easyJet 737-200 G-BECH. Photo (c) Rob Hodgkins

easyJet was founded in 1995, launching operations from London Luton with a simple, disruptive idea: low fares, high aircraft utilisation, and a stripped-back product that focused on getting passengers from A to B as efficiently as possible.

The airline’s first aircraft were Boeing 737-200s, a type already ageing by the mid-1990s but readily available on the leasing market. These jets allowed easyJet to enter service quickly and affordably, operating short-haul routes within the UK and to nearby European destinations. They were loud, fuel-hungry by modern standards, and far from glamorous — but they were perfect tools for a young airline focused on rapid growth.

As easyJet expanded, the fleet evolved to include the Boeing 737-300, a more modern and efficient Classic-series variant. The -300 quickly became the backbone of the airline’s fleet, supporting an expanding route network and higher frequencies as demand for low-cost travel surged across Europe.

A Go Fly Boeing 737-300, soon to be part of easyJet’s fleet. Photo (c) Pete Webber

This fleet was further supplemented when easyJet purchased rival Go Fly from British Airways in 2002. Its fleet of Boeing 737-300s, all with the G-IGOx registration sequence, were subsequently painted into easyJet colours.

The Transition Years: From Boeing to Airbus

By the early 2000s, easyJet was growing fast — and thinking bigger. The airline briefly operated Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft, marking a transition toward newer technology and improved efficiency. But this period proved to be short-lived.

In a strategic move that would define the airline’s future, easyJet committed fully to Airbus, introducing the Airbus A319, followed by the A320. This shift brought improved fuel efficiency, fleet commonality, and a cockpit philosophy that supported large-scale expansion across multiple European bases.

Over time, the remaining Boeing aircraft were phased out, and easyJet became an all-Airbus operator — a position it still holds today.

The Modern Fleet — And a Look Back

Photo (c) easyJet

Today, easyJet operates one of Europe’s largest Airbus narrowbody fleets, including the A320neo and A321neo, aircraft that represent the very latest in efficiency, range and passenger capacity. These jets now fly the same routes — and many more — once pioneered by those early 737s.

But while the orange Airbuses dominate the present, the airline’s success was built on the backs of those first Boeings. The 737-200s and 737-300s were the workhorses of easyJet’s early years, carrying millions of passengers and helping to normalise low-cost air travel across Europe.

What remains of those aircraft today is a fascinating story in its own right.

Below, we’ll look at the surviving airframes from easyJet’s early 737 fleets — and where you can still find them today.

Boeing 737-200

easyJet 737-200 G-BECG at Luton in the early days of the airline. Photo (c) Aero Icarus

• G-BECG (21335), 1995-1997 – Scrapped 2005
• G-BECH (21336), 1995-1997 – Scrapped 2010

G-BECG became LV-YXB with ARG – Linea Privada Argentina before it was scrapped. Photo (c) Aero Icarus

Boeing 737-300

C-GZCN was previously G-IGOK. Copyright (c) Heads Up Aviation

• G-BZZB (25125), 2003-2004 – Stored in Kyrgyzstan
• G-EZYA (23498), 1996-1999 – Scrapped 2012
• G-EZYB (24020), 1996-2004 – Active with Serve Air Cargo as 9S-AAA
• G-EZYC (24462), 1997-2004 – Active with Star Air as ZS-TIH
• G-EZYD (24022), 1997-2005 – Active with Sideral Linhas Aereas as PR-SDQ
• G-EZYE (24068), 1997-1999 – Scrapped 2016
• G-EZYF (23708), 1997-2005 – Active with Sideral Linhas Aereas as PR-SLI
• G-EZYG (29331), 1998-2005 – Active with SF Airlines as B-2877
• G-EZYH (29332), 1998-2005 – Active with Jet2 as G-GDFN
• G-EZYI (29333), 1998-2005 – Active with Airnesia Royal Service as PK-NMI
• G-EZYJ (29334), 1998-2005 – Active with AerCaribe Cargo as N635JA
• G-EZYK (29335), 1999-2005 – Used as fire training aid at Riga Airport, Latvia
• G-EZYL (29336), 1999-2005 – With ASL Airlines France as F-GZTB; Stored Paris CDG
• G-EZYM (29337), 2003-2006 – Active with FlyPersia as EP-FPA
• G-EZYN (29338), 2003-2006 – Active with Fly Kish Airlines as EP-LEF
• G-EZYO (29339), 1999-2006 – Active with Air Peace as 5N-BQV
• G-EZYP (29340), 1999-2006 – Active with Sepehran Airlines as EP-FSI
• G-EZYR (29341), 1999-2006 – With Saha Airlines as EP-SIR; Stored
• G-EZYS (29342), 1999-2006 – Active with Fly Jordan as JY-SOB
• G-EZYT (29307), 2000-2005 – Preserved as training aid at Kunming University of Science and Technology, China
• G-IGOA (24678), 2002-2004 – Preserved as training aid at Nanchang Hangkong University, China as 9H-ZAK
  

  Former easyJet G-IGOB became 5N-BUO with Air Peace in Nigeria. Photo (c) Anna Zvereva

• G-IGOB (28660), 2002-2006 – Active with Air Peace as 5N-BUO
• G-IGOC (24546), 2002-2004 – Scrapped 2025
• G-IGOE (24547), 2002-2004 – Scrapped
• G-IGOF (24698), 2002-2003 – Scrapped following fire in 2014; Nose reportedly preserved
• G-IGOG (23927), 2002-2005 – With South Supreme Airlines as C5-SMS; Stored Amman, Jordan
• G-IGOH (23926), 2002-2005 – With KD Avia as EI-DJS; Stored Kiev Boryspil, Ukraine
• G-IGOI (24092), 2002-2005 – Scrapped 2011
• G-IGOJ (28872), 2002-2006 – Active with Canadian North as C-GPNL
• G-IGOK (28594), 2002-2006 – Active with Canadian North as C-GZCN
• G-IGOL (28596), 2002-2006 – With Canadian North as C-GCNO; Stored
• G-IGOM (28599), 2002-2006 – Active with Serve Air as 9S-PAK
• G-IGOO (28557), 2002-2005 – Active with Azman Air as 5N-YSM
• G-IGOP (8602), 2002-2006 – With Suparna Airlines as B-2113; Stored
• G-IGOR (28606), 2002-2006 – Active with Serve Air as 9S-AAI
• G-IGOS (27336), 2002-2006 – Preserved as restaurant, Yuntaishan China
• G-IGOT (24571), 2002-2006 – With Dniproavia as UR-IVK; Stored
• G-IGOU (28337), 2002-2006 – Preserved at Jiada Plaza, Guangzhou, China
• G-IGOV (25017), 2002-2007 – Scrapped 2019
• G-IGOW (23923), 2002-2005 – Scrapped 2008
• G-IGOX (24219), 2002-2004 – Active with UniWorld Air Cargo as HP-2011UCG
• G-IGOY (28570), 2002-2005 – Active with Azman Air as 5N-HAI
• G-IGOZ (24699), 2002-2005 – Active with Saha Airlines as EP-SIJ
• G-OBWX (24255), 2000-2000 – Stored as N634BC
• G-ODUS (28659), 2003-2006 – With Ukraine International as UR-GBD; Stored
• G-OFRA (29327), 2002-2005 – Active with JSky Airlines as EP-JIB
• G-OGVA (24024), 2003-2004 – Active with Aeronaves TSM as XA-VHQ
• G-OHAJ (29141), 2002-2005 – Active with Jet2 as G-GDFT
• G-OMUC (29405), 2002-2005 – Active with Canadian North as C-GICN

Title image: JetPix (GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html> or GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>), via Wikimedia Commons