BY's early 737's were delivered with original Boeing 707/727 type hat rack interiors with individual PSU's over the seat rows, in addition all the early ones had just a forward galley with 2 toilets aft, whereas the newer BY 737's had split galley's fore and aft.
First seating config was 117 pax to match the Bristol Britannia's, but this went eventually up to the charter norm of 130 pax.
I recall BCAL around 1973 began installing on their 707C's the new wide-look cabin interior with flush overhead lockers to compete with 747/DC-10/Tristar Jumbo Operators in the new wide-body age.
Britannia would eventually follow suit for their 737's, and later orders would have been delivered with the new cabins installed, but I have no idea what was the first new aircraft to have this factory fitted, but it may have been later deliveries that ended towards the time of new 767 deliveries in 1984.
Early BY 737 aircraft still in the fleet were retrofitted with the new wide-look cabins.
United had sold some of their first -222 fleet early on to both Britannia and Transavia.
737-200ADV Advanced were built from June 1971 onwards.
Thus G-AVRL-O, G-AXNA-C, G-AWSY, and G-AZNZ were not ADV models,
but from 1973 G-BADP-R, G-BAZG-I G-BECG/H and those then on were all -204 or 2U4 ADV models --- I'm sure someone here will clarify this.
Britannia's 767-204's had GE CF6 engines with a 2-4-2 seating config for 273, then to 290 pax, but Braathen's pair of 767-205's had PW JT9D engines with a nicer 2-3-2 config seating 256.
Braathens soon found the 767 unsuitable and too big, and offered them for sale in 1986.
Britannia, I assume due to their PW engines did not take them despite the pair having the 2 extra over wing exits to enable 290 pax.
However, one did come into BY's fleet later on a lease as G-BNAX.
Aeromaritime also ordered a 762 with two extra over wing exits, this 767 went to Balkan.
BY 204 and BU 205 Boeing Codes were both given for early 1968 orders for the first new European Customer 737-200 deliveries.
Last edited by rog747; 30th Aug 2021 at 09:47.