News: Airlines working together to produce Boeing 737 replacement
Flights > News > # 958 (15/09/2006)
Following on from its successful development of the widebodied Boeing 787 dreamliner, which is due to enter service in 2008, Flightmapping has learned that Boeing has approached a host of the world’s top airlines, including budget giants Ryanair and US-based Southwest, to help their research into possible replacements for the Boeing 737.
Rather than using the traditional aluminium frame, the new 787 is made of composite materials, which make the plane exceptionally light, enabling fuel savings of 20% compared to similar sized aircraft. Launch customers for the Boeing 787, which will be able to seat between 210 and 330 passengers, include the UK leisure airlines First Choice and Monarch.
The Boeing 737 has been the most successful passenger aircraft in history, with over 5000 made since production began in 1967. The 737 is widely regarded as the workhorse of the aviation industry, and is favoured by no-frills carriers and legacy airlines alike.
Since the first 737 was launched, the model has undergone a number of improvements, with the Boeing 737-800 model having a similar fuel consumption as the 737-200, but carrying 45% more passengers. However, with the current trend for high fuel prices and increasing environmental awareness, there is a clear need for a new plane to be developed using the latest materials and technological development.
It is unlikely that any new aircraft would enter service before 2015, especially as Boeing is already reaping substantial profits from current orders for Boeing 737s, which have been spurred on by the success of no-frills airlines in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
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