What will replace the 737????

Boeing is pushing ahead with plans for its next multi-billion dollar aircraft development programmes, putting additional pressure on its troubled European competitor, Airbus.

Scott Carson, head of Boeing's commercial aerospace division, on Thursday told the Financial Times the group could launch a programme to develop a new generation single aisle aircraft to replace its long-standing 737. The programme could be started in about 18 months, aimed at achieving entry into commercial service around 2015. He said Boeing was sounding out customers over their demands for a new aircraft to replace the 737, whose earliest models were rolled out 40 years ago.

"There will be a new narrow body. The question is how far down in passenger count do you go," he said. New competitors had en­tered the niche for much smaller jets of fewer than 110 seats where the "operating economics are tough", he said.

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The replacement market and efficiency requirements will probably lead to two slightly overlapping types.

Boeing has mentioned it before. If you make an airframe suitable for 120-220 passengers you get a heavy unpopular one at the bottom (737-600, A318) and payload range restricted aircraft on top (B737-900 / A321).

As Carson says you probably don´t want to fight lean Embraer with their succesfull Emb 190/195 so starting at 130 seats seems reasonable.  130-180 seats seems a reasonable range. Maybe something 5 abreast like this:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z160/keesje_pics/LRJ_Boeing_Embraer_Y1_narrow_bod-1.jpg?t=1197069599

Above it could be an airframe able to to 170-240 seats. A new technology 757.

Both should be able to do A320 style cargo and offer similar seat width. 

BTW: I can positively confirm Airbus is not waiting what happens sitting on its hands, do a google Acare + Aircraft

Interesting IMO is Boeing & Airbus don´t want todevelop anything new. The airlines are increasingly pushing them and the engines OEMs.

No airline wants to be the last one to order a moderate efficient fleet of 737s, getting them in 4 years and being stuck with them until 2031..

Some good points stick....i think a nice config fit would be 2-3-2 most of the airlines would go for this. I am sure Boeing would go down the composite route now they have the technology in place for the 787. If they go with the 737RS then i guess they would stick with the coventional 3-3 config...and maybe alloy body..i know there was news about the 737RS being a scaled down version of the 787....