Boeing 767-300

Entering commercial service in 1986 with Japan Airlines (JAL), the Boeing 767-300 was created to address airline requests for greater passenger capacity than the shorter -200 could provide.

While the -200 proved the revolutionary concept of the twin-engine wide-body, it was slightly too small for many heavy routes. The -300 hit the "sweet spot," balancing seat count, range, and operating costs so effectively that it became one of the best-selling wide-body aircraft in history until surpassed by the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330. More information below.

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Distinctive Design Features

The difference between the 767-300 and its predecessor is almost entirely in its length.

1. The Fuselage Stretch

The most obvious characteristic is that the 767-300 is significantly longer than the "stubby" -200. Boeing engineers added a 10-foot plug ahead of the wings and an 11-foot plug behind the wings, stretching the aircraft by a total of 21 feet (6.4 meters).

Visually, this gives the -300 a much sleeker, more balanced appearance than the shorter -200.

2. Increased Capacity and Cabin

The stretch allowed airlines to add roughly 45–50 more passengers compared to the -200. In a typical two-class configuration, the -300 holds about 269 passengers.

Crucially, it retained the highly popular 2-3-2 economy seating layout, which passengers preferred over the tighter 3-3-3 or 3-4-3 layouts found in wider aircraft like the 777 or 747.

3. Commonality

Like the -200, the -300 features a two-person "glass cockpit." It shares a common type rating with the Boeing 757 and the 767-200, allowing pilots to fly all three variants with minimal transition training—a major selling point for airlines.

The Real Star: The 767-300ER (Extended Range)

While the basic -300 was successful for medium-range routes, the variant that changed aviation history was the 767-300ER, introduced in 1988.

The -300ER combined the extra seats of the stretched body with fuel tanks added to the wing center section and a strengthened structure for higher takeoff weights.

The Transatlantic Workhorse: The 767-300ER became the definitive aircraft for flights between North America and Europe. Its range (about 6,000 nautical miles) and medium size allowed airlines to profitably connect secondary cities (e.g., Pittsburgh to Frankfurt, or Cincinnati to Paris) direct, rather than funneling everyone through massive hubs like JFK or Heathrow using larger 747s.

Other Key Variants

767-300F (Freighter): The 767-300 makes an excellent cargo plane because its fuselage width perfectly accommodates standard shipping pallets on the main deck and containers in the belly. New 767-300Fs are still being built today, largely for FedEx and UPS, long after passenger versions ceased production.

BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter): Many retired passenger 767-300ERs have been bought by cargo airlines and converted into freighters by having a large cargo door cut into the side.