All those hoping for a completely new single aisle aircraft to compete with the Airbus A321XLR will have to wait a little longer. Boeing recently confirmed that no new midsized aircraft, such as the 737, will be introduced within the next decade.
This also implies that 737 production will continue. Should we, however, expect an even more advanced 737 than the current 737 MAX series?
In a report from Simple Flying, Boeing Chief Executive Officer David Calhoun confirmed to investors this week that the aircraft manufacturer has no plans to introduce a new model anytime soon. He cited a lack of propulsion systems on the horizon that can deliver the improvements needed to justify developing a new airframe.
Calhoun wants the next jet to be groundbreaking rather than rushed through to fill a gap, given that aircraft often remain on the market for many years. He explained that improving fuel efficiency and lowering carbon emissions are critical obstacles that Boeing must resolve before moving forward.
The need for 20% to 30% cost savings
There were speculations that the new Boeing 797 was already on the drawing boards to rival the Airbus A321XLR. But Boeing confirmed earlier this year that no product was currently in development until sufficient technological advances were made to justify it.
However, Boeing expects that customers like airlines want 20% to 30% cost savings over existing models. Manufacturers can achieve this in part by incorporating new technology, but a significant portion will almost certainly come from lower fuel consumption.
Developing a new commercial aircraft from the ground up requires significant investment and time, and it is fraught with risk. Program delays are common and can cause financial hardship for the manufacturer, as seen recently with Bombardier’s CSeries development.
After mounting losses, the Canadian manufacturer sold the program to Airbus for the symbolic sum of one Canadian dollar. Under Airbus’ ownership, the narrowbody plane is now known as the A220, and sales have increased, while Bombardier has returned to its focus on business jets.
Calhoun said, “if it doesn’t have a sustainability wrapper all around it, if it can’t meet the emissions tests, if it can’t deliver significant performance advantages, then there won’t be an airplane.”
The Boeing 737-10 MAX
The 737-10, also known as the 737 MAX 10, is Boeing’s most recent narrow-body or single-aisle aircraft. This aircraft can carry the same number of passengers as the Airbus A321XLR, but it lacks range. The MAX has a range of 6,111 kilometers, while the XLR has a range of 8,704 kilometers. The 737-10 is still being certified, and the launch date may be pushed back to the summer of 2023.
The 737 is actually a 1960s design which has been upgraded throughout the years. The question now lies up to where can the good old 737 be upgraded, and how extensive in order to rival the newer Airbus A320 variants.
Will Airbus build a newer single-aisle aircraft that will replace the A320 family? If they will, then most likely we will see A350 technologies applied into this new Airbus mid-sized aircraft.
Do you think its time for Boeing to think of a 737 replacement? Share me your thoughts below.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
Airframe still nose up with new engines problem. The elephant in the room!
Monopolised markets seldom produce innovation. So in the case with current commercial aviation production market. Previous century has seen much more innovation and development but Boeing-Airbus doupolly has made the market stagnant for innovation.
Boeing is definitely screwing up by waiting an entire decade before launching a clean sheet design. Lack of reinvesting is the reason most American companies go under. It’s always about the shareholders pockets instead of competitive reliable products. If Boeing chooses to go down another dark road as they rushed the max to the market the will loose. Comac and Airbus will end up eating Boeing’s dinner due to American manufacturers tend to be content not reinvesting in new products.
Boeing is definitely screwing up by waiting an entire decade before launching a clean sheet design. Lack of reinvesting is the reason most American companies go under. It’s always about the shareholders pockets instead of competitive reliable products. If Boeing chooses to go down another dark road as they did by rushing the max to the market they will loose. Comac and Airbus will end up eating Boeing’s dinner due to American manufacturers tend to be content not reinvesting in new products. Hopefully the American government will help invest if that what it takes. Before anyone start complaining about tax dollars if that was to happen, think about the years of tax benefits the government will get back in return. Honestly the shareholders should be thinking the same way. Put greed aside and think about the long-term benefits.