The 757 has been a great success for Boeing with 1,050 aircraft built before production
ended in 2004. The type found a popular place in airline fleets with its short takeoff performance
and medium range capabilities. Indeed, airlines are still struggling to replace it,
with the A321XLR only offering a partial solution.
So as Boeing considers its next mid-size aircraft, would an update to the 757 be a good option?
While the topic has been covered extensively, we thought we’d take a look at it ourselves
as Boeing continues to stay silent on its next commercial aircraft offering.
When it comes to the 757, the -200 variant offers a much higher range than other narrowbodies.
The jet is capable of flying 3,915 NM (7,250 kilometers) and can easily handle US
coast-to-coast flights as well as performing well with low-demand transatlantic services.
Later narrowbodies such as the 737 MAX still fail to meet the range of the 757, although the
long-range narrowbodies from Airbus do compete. It’s also known for its performance in hot and
dry and high-altitude environments. With a higher thrust-to-weight ratio, the type
can operate from shorter runways with a lower take-off speed and spectacular climb performance.
When production of the 757 ended in 2004, Boeing was left without a direct replacement option
for the type- something that is still the case today. The 737 MAX offers neither the range nor
the hot and short-field performance of the 757 (although it does improve efficiency).
A re-launch of the 757 could prove to be an excellent move. If the type’s range
and efficiency can be increased, the jets midsize capacity and ability to operate at
smaller airports could ensure solid sales. FlightGlobal noted in 2015 that Boeing had
considered revising the 757 a couple of times- but never saw the business case for
this. Several reasons were cited, including the limited demand for that aircraft range
and the high cost of 757 production. Then-Boeing vice-president Randy Tinseth said of the 757:
“That airplane had a unique very unique production system.
It was relatively expensive to build compared to the 737."
Suspending the NMA program has left Boeing without an offering in the mid-size, long-range market.
Previous 757 customers have struggled to find replacements, and it's fair to say that Airbus
has now moved ahead with the A321neo and its longer range variants. Several airlines are
seeing the A321XLR as a 757-200 replacement. It works for capacity and range but lacks the
performance characteristics of the 757. A new clean-sheet design would be great,
but this could cost much more time and money. On the other hand, an update to an existing
aircraft could be faster and cheaper, while ensuring commonality with previous types.
The most important upgrade to the 757 would be new engines. Engine technology
and efficiency have moved on a great deal since the launch of the 757. Re-engining is
nothing new. Engine upgrades have been made to the 737 since the 1970s, continued, of course,
today with the 737 MAX. The 777X is, of course, also a re-engined version of an existing type.
Beyond engines, we would obviously see a fully modern cockpit with all of the advanced
controls and displays available today. Boeing would probably stay with a conventional metal
fuselage like the 737 MAX and 777X, rather than the composite build of the 787 or A350. This would
keep costs lower while still ensuring efficiency gains through updated wing designs- which could
be composed of carbon-fibre, like the 777X. Sadly, all of this is just wishful thinking.
At the end of the day, however, Boeing clearly needs to decide on something to replace the
gap left by the 757. It knew this before with its NMA plans, but the issue has become more pressing
following the success of the A321XLR and rumors of an Airbus A322 coming in the near future...
Do you think Boeing should update the 757?
If it does, what kinds of updates do you think we would see? Let us know in the comments.