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Will Boeing proceed with plans for building its anticipated midsize jet

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Will Boeing proceed with plans for building its anticipated midsize jet
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Boeing 737 | Boeing Website

The commercial airline industry is witnessing a robust demand for a new type of aircraft that bridges the gap between narrowbody and widebody jets. Historically, narrowbody jets like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 have dominated the market due to their operational efficiency on short-haul routes. Widebody aircraft, offering extended-range capabilities and higher passenger capacities, serve long-haul destinations globally.

However, there is now an increasing interest among carriers in operating long-haul flights with lower-capacity jets. This has led to discussions about the potential development of a new airliner that could fill this niche—specifically, Boeing's consideration of building the 797 model.

The story of Boeing's pursuit in this space began with the Boeing 757. On October 28, 2004, Boeing ceased production of this model after delivering over 1,000 units. The final unit was delivered to Shanghai Airlines on November 28, 2005. Although designed for medium-haul routes with more capacity than narrowbodies but less than widebodies, it struggled to find its place in airlines' networks during its prime years.

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Despite this initial lukewarm reception from airlines in the late '90s and early '00s, models like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines still rely heavily on their fleets of Boeing 757s today due to their versatility. These aircraft remain crucial for certain transatlantic services where they excel in performance.

Boeing faced criticism for not developing a re-engined version of the Boeing 757 when market interest surged in such models during the mid-2010s. The logistical challenges and high costs associated with restarting production were deemed prohibitive by industry analysts.

Instead, Boeing opted for a clean-sheet design approach with its New Midsize Airplane (NMA), informally known as the Boeing 797 program. "This airliner was designed to fill the 'middle of the market' gap," aiming at seating between 225 and 275 passengers over distances up to 5,000 nautical miles while offering lower trip costs compared to widebodies.

Initial airline interest appeared promising; however, "the aircraft program has faced extensive reevaluations." Reports from Aviation Week indicated early expressions of interest from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Emirates. Analysts projected significant demand for such an aircraft but acknowledged resource constraints impacted progress—especially those linked to issues surrounding other projects like the Boeing 737 MAX.

With competition such as Airbus's A321XLR entering this middle-market segment aggressively," many are right to think that potential appeal...could have been significantly reduced."

Whether or not Boeing will ultimately proceed with developing this ambitious project remains uncertain amid ongoing evaluations within fluctuating market dynamics. For now," we will simply have to wait and see if" further advancements materialize concerning what might become one pivotal future addition within commercial aviation offerings worldwide.

Organizations Included in this History
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