Você sabe o que significam aqueles números e letras após o modelo dos aviões da Boeing?

Geralmente, quando alguém lê sobre um avião da Boeing e vê escrito, por exemplo, Boeing 777-31H, ou, Boeing 747-430, tenta entender o que significam todos estes números e letras.

Estes números e letras significam o modelo, a versão e o cliente que adquiriu o avião.

Mas, como saber?

Olhando para os exemplos iniciais, no caso do Boeing 777-31H, para entender melhor, os três primeiros números significam o modelo de avião (777) e, seguidamente, o primeiro dos três números finais é a versão do avião, ou seja, o -3 significa "300", seguido dos dois últimos números que são o "customer code" da Boeing (1H - Emirates).
Portanto, Boeing 777-31H, significa que é um Boeing 777-300, vendido à Emirates.

O segundo exemplo (Boeing 747-430) significa que é um Boeing 747-400, vendido à Lufthansa, que possui o customer code "30".

A Gol, por exemplo, possui o 'customer code' EH, portanto, um Boeing 737-800 da companhia, comprado junto à Boeing, está registrado como Boeing 737-8EH.

Estes códigos permanecem junto à aeronave para sempre, logo, mesmo que esta, futuramente, passe para um novo operador, carregará consigo o código do operador que a adquiriu junto a Boeing.

Exemplos:

Como podemos ver, este avião aparece como sendo um Boeing 737-8EH, o que significa que é um Boeing 737-800, que foi encomendado à Boeing pela companhia brasileira Gol (código EH).

Já neste segundo exemplo, o avião aparece como sendo um Boeing 737-341 e, apesar de, quando da foto, estar voando pela Webjet, foi comprado junto à Boeing pela Varig (código 41).

* Quando, após os três primeiros dígitos, que informam o modelo do avião, aparecer a letra F, significa que aquele é um avião de cargas.
Ex:
Boeing 777-F28 - Boeing 777 - Freighter, adquirido pela Air France(código Boeing 28)

Abaixo a relação de todos os clientes Boeing e seus respectivos 'customers codes':

01	Piedmont Airlines
02	Northern Consolidated Airlines
03	Caribair (Caribbean Atlantic Airlines)
04	Panair do Brasil
	Britannia Airways ? Thomson Airways
05	Braathens SAFE ? Braathens ? SAS Braathens ? SAS Norge
06	KLM
04	West German Air Force
08	Icelandair
09	China Airlines
10	Wien Consolidated ? Wien Air Alaska
11	Wardair
12	Malaysia-Singapore Airlines ? Singapore Airlines
13	Ariana Afghan Airlines
14	Pacific Southwest Airlines
15	Lake Central Airlines
16	LAN Chile ? LAN Airlines
17	Canadian Pacific Air Lines ? CP Air
18	British European Airways
19	New Zealand National Airways Corporation ? Air New Zealand
20	Boeing
21	Pan Am
22	United Airlines
23	American Airlines
24	Continental Airlines ? United Airlines
25	Eastern Air Lines
26	United States Air Force (USAF) - Military Air Transport Service (MATS)
27	Braniff
28	Air France
29	Sabena ? SN Brussels Airlines ? Brussels Airlines
30	Lufthansa
	Condor
31	Trans World Airlines
32	Delta Air Lines
33	Air Canada
34	Transair Sweden
35	National Airlines
36	BOAC ? British Airways
37	Air India
38	Qantas
39	Cubana
40	Pakistan International Airlines
41	Varig Brazilian Airlines
42	Nordair
43	Alitalia
44	South African Airways]
45	Seaboard World Airlines
46	Japan Airlines (JAL)
47	Western Airlines
48	Aer Lingus
49	Flying Tiger Line
50	Trek Airways
51	Northwest Orient Airlines ? Northwest Airlines
52	Aeroméxico
53	United States Air Force
54	Mohawk Airlines
55	Executive Jet Management
56	Iberia Airlines
57	Swissair
58	El Al
59	Avianca
60	Ethiopian Airlines
61	Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
62	Pacific Northern Airlines
63	WAAC
	Ghana Airways
	Faucett
64	Mexicana
65	Cunard Eagle and British Eagle
66	United Arab Airlines ? EgyptAir
67	Cathay Pacific
68	Saudia
69	Kuwait Airways
70	Iraqi Airways
71	Trans International Airlines ? TransAmerica
72	Airlift International
73	World Airways
74	Iraqi Airways
	Libyan Arab
75	Pacific Western ? Canadian Airlines
76	Trans Australia Airlines ? Australian Airlines
77	Ansett Australia
78	British West Indian Airways
79	Saturn Airways
80	Bankers Trust
81	Línea Aeropostal Venezolana
	All Nippon Airways
82	TAP Portugal
83	SAS
84	Olympic Airways ? Olympic Airlines ? Olympic Air
85	American Flyers
86	Iran Air
87	Aerolíneas Argentinas
89	Japan Domestic Airlines ? Toa Domestic Airlines ? Japan Air System
90	Alaska Airlines
91	Frontier Airlines
92	Southern Air Transport
93	Pacific Air Lines
94	Syrian Arab Airlines
95	Northeast Airlines
96	Quebecair ? Nordair
97	Aloha Airlines
98	Capital Airlines
	Air Zaïre
99	AVENSA
	Caledonian Airways ? British Caledonian
A0	LAB Airlines
A1	VASP
A2	Modern Air
A3	Pluna
A4	AirCal
A6	Essex International / LTV Capital
A7	Trans Caribbean Airways
A8	Indian Airlines
A9	Transair
B0	China Cargo Airlines
B1	DETA Mozambique / Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique
B2	Air Madagascar
B3	Union des Transports Aériens (UTA)
B4	Middle East Airlines (MEA)
B5	Korean Air
B6	Royal Air Maroc
B7	Allegheny Airlines ? US Air ? US Airways
B8	Austrian Airlines
C0	GATX / Boothe
C3	Cruzeiro do Sul
C9	Luxair
D1	Universal Airlines
D3	Royal Jordanian
D4	Ozark Airlines
D6	Air Algérie
D7	Thai Airways International
E0	Dubai Air Wing
E1	Eastern Provincial Airways<"ref name="ab" />
E3	LADECO
E7	Arkia
E9	Biman Bangladesh Airlines
F1	Air New Zealand
F2	Turkish Airlines
F3	Government of Argentina
F5	Government of Portugal / Portuguese Air Force
F6	Philippine Airlines
F8	Nepal Airlines
F9	Nigeria Airways
G1	Government of Saudi Arabia
G4	United States Air Force
G5	L.T.S ? LTU International
G7	America West Airlines
H0	Oman Royal Flight
H2	ITT
H3	Tunisair
H4	Southwest Airlines
H5	Mey Air
H6	Malaysia Airlines
H7	Cameroon Airlines
H9	JAT Airways
J0	Air Jamaica
J1	Dominicana
J4	Sterling Airways ? Cimber Sterling
J6	Civil Aviation Administration of China ? Air China
J7	National Aircraft Leasing
J8	Sudan Airways
J9	Imperial Iranian Air Force
K1	Tarom / Romanian Government
K2	Transavia / KLM
K3	Aviogenex
K5	Hapag-Lloyd TUI Airlines
K6	SAHSA
K9	Bavaria Flug
L4	American Capital Aviation
L5	Libyan Arab Airlines
L6	Aviation Services & Support
L7	Air Nauru
L8	Government of Yugoslavia
L9	Maersk Air
M0	Aeroflot
M1	Pertamina Oil Pelita Air Service
M2	TAAG Angola Airlines
M6	Royal Brunei Airlines
M7	Hughes Air West
M8	Trans European Airways
M9	Zambia Airways
N0	Air Zimbabwe
N1	Government of Venezuela
N3	Brazilian Air Force
N6	Government of Nigeria
N7	Government of Egypt
N8	Yemenair Yemen Airways
N9	Government of Niger / Air Niger
P1	State of Qatar
P3	HRH Talal bin Abdul Aziz
P5	Thai Airways
P6	Gulf Air
P8	Bahrain Amiri Flight
Q2	Air Gabon
Q3	Southwest Air Lines Japan, ? Japan Transocean Air
Q4	Transbrasil
Q5	Air Liberia
Q6	Lacsa
Q8	ILFC
Q9	Itel Corp.
R1	Government of Cameroon
R4	Alyemda
R6	Air Guinee
R7	Cargolux
R8	Air Tanzania
S1	TACA International Airlines
S2	FedEx Express
S3	Air Europe /Sunrock Aircraft
S4	Air Afrique
S5	Eldorado Aviation
S7	North Central Airlines / Republic Airlines
S9	Maritime Investments
T0	Texas Air Corp / Continental Airlines
T2	Dome Petroleum
T3	Evergreen
T4	Air Florida
T5	Orion Airways
T7	Monarch Airlines
T8	Boeing Polaris Leasing
T9	Boeing
U3	Garuda Indonesia
U4	OSL Villa Holidays
U5	Government of Jordan
U8	Kenya Airways
U9	Polynesian Airlines
V2	TAME
V3	Copa Airlines
V5	Bahamasair
V6	Petrolair Systems SA
V8	Air Executive / Busy Bee
W0	China Yunnan Airlines
W2	Aerotour
W6	Government of Morocco
W8	NOGA Import
X2	Air Pacific
X3	Air Charter International
X4	Supair
X6	MarkAir
X8	Wedge Aviation / Wistair Corp
X9	Indonesian Air Force
Y0	Guinness Peat Aviation
Y4	Rafik Hariri
Y5	Air Malta
Y9	Air Malawi
Z0	China Southwest Airlines
Z5	Government of Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Royal Flight
Z6	Royal Thai Air Force
Z8	South Korean Air Force
Z9	Lauda Air
1A	Martinair
1B	China Southern Airlines
1C	Government of Romania
1D	Ansett Worldwide (AWAS)
1H	Emirates Airline
1K	Airtours International Airways
1L	China Xinjiang Airlines
1M	Oman Air
1Q	Tombo Aviation
1R	Virgin Atlantic Airways
1S	Deutsche BA ? DBA
1Z	Iraqi Airways
2A	Hawaiian Airlines
2C	Air UK Leisure
2J	Arab Leasing
2K	Turkmenistan Airlines / Akhal
2L	Azerbaijan Airlines
2P	Government of United Arab Emirates
2Q	Ukraine International Airlines
2R	Pegasus Airlines
2T	Tracinda Corporation
2U	JABJ / Picton II Ltd.
2W	TAM Brazilian Airlines
2Y	Mitsubishi Commercial Aviation Partners
3A	Ansett Worldwide (AWAS)
3B	Air Mauritius
3C	Euralair International
3N	ATA Airlines
3P	Uzbekistan Airways
3Q	BCC Equipment Leasing
3R	Western Pacific Airlines
3S	Pembroke Capital
3T	Real Estate Exchange
3U	Chartwell Aircraft Company / Chartwell Partners LLC
3V	EasyJet Airline Company
3Y	Somon Air
4A	United Parcel Service
4G	MIAT Mongolian
4K	Air Nippon
4N	North China Administration / China United Airlines
4P	Hainan Airlines
4Q	Mid East Jet
4R	AeroSvit Airlines
4S	GB Airways
4T	North Pacific Aviation
4U	Air Shamrock
4V	Superior International Aviation Services
4X	Sky Airlines
4Y	RwandAir
5A	Midway Airlines / Presidential Airways
5B	Germania
5C	Xiamen Airlines
5D	LOT Polish Airlines
5E	EVA Airways
5F	GATX Capital Corporation
5G	MGM Mirage
5H	Itochu AirLease Corporation
5N	Shandong Airlines
5P	Air Europa
5R	Jet Airways
5S	Czech Airlines
5T	First Union Commercial Corporation
5U	Dobro Limited
5V	General Electric Corporation
6B	Cal Air / Novair International Airways
6D	Shanghai Airlines
6E	Viva Air
6J	Air Berlin
6K	Vietnam Airlines
6M	Eurobelgium Airlines ? Virgin Express
6N	GECAS
6Q	Boullion Aircraft Holding
6R	Wuhan Airlines
7A	Far Eastern Air Transport
7B	Air Holland
7C	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
7D	Air Seychelles
7E	Aeromaritime International
7G	Malev
7K	Zhongyuan Airlines
7L	Shenzhen Airlines
7Q	Novel Leasing Company
7U	Atlas Air
8A	Air 2000 Limited
8B	Istanbul Airlines
8E	Asiana Airlines
8J	TAROM
8N	Chilean Air Force
8S	China Xinjiang Airlines
9A	ARAVCO
9B	Government of Brunei
9D	Linjeflyg
9H	Leisure International Airways
9J	Shorouk Air
9K	Shenzhen Airlines
9L	Air China
9M	Air Austral
9N	Mid East Jet
9P	China Eastern Airlines
9R	Pro Air
9T	Usual Ltd.
9U	Wilmot Trust company
AB	AB Airlines
AD	Eastwind Airlines
AF	United States Navy / Marines
AH	General Electric Credit Corporation
AJ	Saudi Ministry of Finance and Economy
AK	PrivatAir
AL	BOC Aviation
AN	Saudi Oger
AR	Taiwan Air Force
AS	Ryanair
AU	Aircraft Guaranty Title Corp.
AV	Newsflight II Inc.
AW	A.S. Bugsham & Bros.
AX	Saudi ARAMCO
BC	Boeing NetJets
BD	AirTran Airways
BF	Funair Corp.
BG	Flightlease AG ? GATX Jet Partners Ltd
BH	TBN Aircraft Corporation
BJ	Atlas Air
BK	CIT Leasing Corp.
BL	Midwest Airlines
BQ	GECAS
BT	Lufthansa Cargo
BS	North American Airlines
BX	Midway Airlines
CB	BCC Equipment Leasing Corporation
CG	GKW Aviation LLC
CJ	BBJ One Inc.
CM	Aerolíneas de Baleares Aebal
CN	Matela Offshore Ltd
CP	Ford Motor Company
CQ	JMC Airlines Limited
CT	WestJet
CU	Tutor-Saliba corp.
CX	GATX - Flightlease
DC	Miami Air International
DF	Royal Australian Air Force
DM	United States Air Force
DO	Not Known
DP	Royal Saudi Air Force
DR	Multiflight
DT	Qantas Defense Services / Royal Australian Air Force
DV	Lowa Ltd
DW	Bausch & Lomb
DX	Kazakhstan Airlines
DZ	Qatar Airways
EA	Azteca Airlines
EC	Dubai Air Wing
ED	South African Air Force
EE	Air Senegal International
EF	Mid East Jet
EG	Samsung Aerospace
EH	Gol Transportes Aéreos
EJ	Grupo Omnilife S.A. de C.V.
EL	Swiflite Aircraft Corporation
EM	LUK Aviation
EQ	EIE Eagle Incorporated
ES	Royal Australian Air Force
ET	Not Known
EV	Jade Cargo International
EX	Amiri Flight Line
EY	Italian Air Force
FB	Government of Equatorial Guinea
FD	BCC Equipment LLC
FE	Virgin Blue ? Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd
FG	Saudi Arabia Ministry of Finance and Economy
FH	SMBC Aviation Capital
FK	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
FN	Travel Service
FS	Turkish Air Force
FT	Air China Cargo
FV	United States Navy
FX	Etihad Airways
FY	CIT Group/Equipment Financing
FZ	Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management
GB
GC	Vizavi
GG	Sultan Al-Kabeer
GJ	SpiceJet
GK	Buraq Air
GL	SkyEurope
GP	Lion Air
GQ	Pegasus Aviation Finance
GR	Turkmenistan Airlines
GU	Atlant Soyuz ? Moscow Airlines
GV	Not Known
HA	Guggenheim Aviation Partners
HB	Sonair
HC	SunExpress
HD	Dennis Vanguard International
HE	Andrey Melnichenko
HF	Luxury Ocean Ltd
HG	Air India Express
HI	Indian Air Force
HJ	Peregrine Point LLC
HO	ALAFCO
HQ	Loadair Cargo
HT	Guggenheim Investment Fund
HV	Volga-Dnepr Airlines
HX	Aviation Capital Group
HZ	Itera Holdings
JA	Not Known
JB	Not Known
JE	Arik Air
JF	Aircraft Guaranty Corporation
JH	DHL Aviation
JP	Norwegian Air Shuttle
JR	Bank of Utah
JZ	Not Known
KG	Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
KK	Pacific Sky Aviation
KN	FlyDubai
KV	Goiania
KY	Air Astana
KZ	Nippon Cargo Airlines
LB	Purple Holdings Management
LD	Kulula (Comair (South Africa))
LJ	Aviation Capital Services
LP	UTair
LZ	Not known
SA	Silk Air
SH	Air Lease Corporation
ZB	Southern Air
ZG	V Australia
ZN	Aerologic
ZQ	Tassili Airlines
ZS	S7 Airlines
ZW	Not Known

Estes códigos valem somente para aviões da Boeing, na Airbus o significado é outro:

Nos aviões da Airbus, os três primeiros números significam o modelo do avião e, geralmente vem acompanhados da letra A (A320, A340...), e, os três últimos significam a série da aeronave, o fabricante do motor e sua versão.

Ex: A320-231 significa que é um Airbus 320-200 - Motor IAE (3) versão 1.

Abaixo a relação dos motores e seus respectivos códigos:

0	General Electric (GE)
1	CFM International (GE/SNECMA)
2	Pratt & Whitney (P&W)
3	International Aero Engines (R-R, P&W, MTU, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, and Ishikawajima-Harima)
4	Rolls-Royce (RR)
6	Engine Alliance (GE and P&W)

Há também alguns casos onde são utilizadas algumas letras adicionais:
C - versão combi (passageiros/cargueiros0
F - versão cargueiro
R - longo alcance
X - modelo avançado.