alberttky 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2011 Boeing is sending its strongest signals yet that it plans to build a new plane to replace its 737. Boeing chairman and CEO James McNerney told analysts overnight, "We're going to do a new airplane." He then seemed to backtrack a little, saying, "We're not done evaluating this whole situation yet, but our current bias... is to move to a newer airplane, an all-new airplane, at the end of the decade, beginning of the next decade. It's our judgment that our customers will wait for us." After McNerney spoke, the company tweeted that it expects to have more clarity by the middle of this year on its plans for the 737. Boeing has said previously that it is leaning toward designing a new plane. Boeing builds more 737s than any other model. It competes with the A320 made by Airbus, which recently said it will make a version with new engines that it hopes to bring to market in 2016. Airlines have been watching closely to see whether Boeing would upgrade its 737 with new engines like Airbus' A320, or build an all-new plane. Either one would be more fuel-efficient, but designing and building an all-new plane will take longer. McNerney said he thinks the technology for more efficient engines and the plane itself, as well as customer demand, will come together around 2020. Southwest Airlines Co currently flies only the 737, and has bought more of them than any other airline. On January 20, CEO Gary Kelly was asked whether Boeing's plans for the 737 will cause Southwest to look at other new planes. "If they told us that we're not going to see a more fuel-efficient 737 for another 20 years, that probably would cause us to do something," he said. Southwest will acquire smaller Boeing 717s once its purchase of AirTran Holdings Inc closes. Also Thursday, Boeing submitted its latest bid to make a new tanker for the US Air Force. Paris-based European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co is expected to submit a bid as well. The winner will get a contract for tens of billions of dollars to build 179 aerial refuelling planes. McNerney called Boeing's bid "aggressive but responsible." He told the analysts in his audience on Thursday, "The people in this room would be glad if we won at the bid level that we've put in, and would be happy if we lost at a lower level." EADS also said it would submit its bid overnight for its version of the tanker, based on the civilian A330. Boeing's tanker would be based on its 767. The Pentagon is expected to pick a winning bidder for the long-delayed tankers later this year. Boeing shares rose 3 cents to close at $72.66. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/world/8816732/boeing-set-to-build-new-737/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johan Z 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2011 What would it be called? 797? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2 Report post Posted February 11, 2011 I wonder if they would call it the 2737 just to keep the 737 designator. Their stillborn SST was the 2707 after all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alberttky 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2011 I'm hoping it'll be the shape of the Sonic Cruiser. Do something different! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted February 11, 2011 Maybe it will be named 737-10. If Boeing wishes to cut development costs, they should just scale down the B787 to around half size and that would make a great B737 replacement... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lock SH 0 Report post Posted February 11, 2011 I hope it wont be a case of 'B 7late7' to 'B 7gone7' .......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gavin Andrew David 6 Report post Posted February 11, 2011 Yes the B737NG is still miles away behind the A320 . The cockpit just seems very aged ! Shorter ver. of the 787 variant seems like a great idea , the flight deck is already advanced enough , just a modification to the airframe ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N Azman 0 Report post Posted February 12, 2011 Yes the B737NG is still miles away behind the A320 . The cockpit just seems very aged ! Shorter ver. of the 787 variant seems like a great idea , the flight deck is already advanced enough , just a modification to the airframe ! I wouldn't agree with your first statement. Aircraft opex says the 738 and 739 very much is a competitive product. true, cockpit looks aged, but if im running an airline i wouldn't care lah. neither would i care if the a/c have a HUD in the cockpit. EFB, boleh lah. Boeing should just re-engine the 737 just to be competitive with a320 neo. Concurrently, design the 737nextgen. A320 neo EISs at 2016, and theres no way in hell this new 737nextgen can EIS by then. So we're looking at a period of at least 4-5 years where the a320neo will have way better figures compared to 737. 4-5 years is a hell of a lot of orders missed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radzi 2 Report post Posted February 12, 2011 Hopefully it will be a mature product by the time MH need to replace the current B738s. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Syukri 0 Report post Posted February 12, 2011 That would be a loooongg way from now.... But I like the idea of using smaller 787 as d replacement... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
