The Boeing Co. says it is studying a new commercial jetliner that would smaller than its smallest twin-aisle airplane and bigger than its largest single-aisle plane.
The company’s top salesman, John Wojick, told the Wall Street Journal last week that Boeing sees demand for a medium-range jetliner that seats about 250 passengers and can fly routes of about five to nine hours flying time.
The airplane likely would not enter service before 2025, and would compete against Airbus’ longer-range A321neo, which is set to enter service in 2019.
Wojick told the Journal airlines want a plane bigger than Boeing’s 757, with room for about 250 passengers and able to fly 4,300 to 4,800 nautical miles. That would give it about a third more room and range than the biggest 737.
The development didn’t surprise aerospace analyst Scott Hamilton, who has been reporting on the possibility of a middle-of-the-market jetliner for more than a year on his news blog, Leeham News and Comment.
A new Boeing jetliner would mean “opportunities all around the US. And potential anguish for Washington State and Boeing’s local unions,” as Boeing would likely shop around for an assembly site, he writes.
Everett and North Charleston, S.C., where Boeing assembles some of its 787 Dreamliners, are certainly in the running. A report in the Seattle Times calls them “the most likely candidates.”
Boeing razed buildings in Everett to make way for new 777X buildings, but still has room to expand at its Everett plant, especially if it builds a parking lot.
In North Charleston, the company has a long-term lease with an option to buy on 470 acres adjacent to its Dreamliner plant.
Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.
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