Air Transport

Boeing has acknowledged the start of talks with engine makers over the range of potential technologies required for a future narrowbody, but the US manufacturer says there is no possibility of a 737 successor by the end of this decade.

Commenting on the growing speculation over a new narrowbody programme, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president Alan Mulally says: “We’re talking to all three of them [the engine makers] about the technology, but we need a few more years before we see the next important leap. Right now there’s nothing we can do that will economically obsolete that aircraft [the Next Generation 737].”

Mulally does add, however, that with 787 composite airframe primary structure technology available “we’ll be capable of doing fuselages all the way from 80 to 220 passengers”. Based on the single-piece barrel construction technology being developed for the 787, Mulally says this should give Boeing flexibility to offer a variety of three or so fuselages with five- or six-abreast cross-sections.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity,” he adds.

•   Indian low-cost start-up SpiceJet is planning to double the size of its recently placed 737-800 order to 20 aircraft as it reports a better-than-expected first month of operations, which were initiated in May with three leased 737-800s.

“We have had a very encouraging response since we started operating and our loads are upwards of 90%,” says the airline. “That is why we are looking at increasing capacity faster than we originally planned.”

The airline is in talks with lessors to add “three or four” more 737s before deliveries of the purchased aircraft begin next year.