Could A Boeing 757X Replace The 737 Series?

The Boeing 757 has had a lengthy career within the aviation industry. Today, the aircraft remains a staple for select operators worldwide.

Alongside the Boeing 767, some carriers and analysts would argue that these two aircraft types have always lacked an ideal replacement from the American plane maker.

Understanding The Boeing 757X Idea

Discussions surrounding a 757X or 757 MAX have long been present. How valid they are in the industry, or how much they’ve been built into something firm, is another story.

In addition, though, discussions about re-engining the 757 have shifted from being a pure 757 replacement to also being a replacement for the 737 series, per some analysts over the years.

Why the 737 series? Well, right before the pandemic, Boeing’s latest endeavour in the long-standing family incurred problems that led to a significant grounding. These tragedies also revealed crucial design flaws in the airframe as Boeing rushed the design and prioritised profits over safety.

At one point during the grounding, there was a lot of challenging but open dialogue about replacing the 737, and maybe it was time to give up the tired design. Obviously, this didn’t happen, but the discussion was there, and there were also talks about how a re-engine to 757 might be the best of both worlds for customers.

Boeing has explored ways to adapt the 757 or 737 into more efficient types. However, like several other studies, this didn’t ultimately continue.

Some argue the closest we’ll get to a 757 replacement now is the higher-capacity MAX aircraft, such as the 737-10. The 737-10 is longer, but many operators still consider it an adequate 757 replacement.

The Boeing 757, though, has always offered airlines that X factor. An X factor that, over the decades, has drawn carriers to the program. Its wide range of capabilities has meant it could be utilised across various missions on a complex route network, too.

The Rise Of Airbus And The A321

Boeing’s decision not to proceed with a dedicated 757 replacement has allowed Airbus to move forward with its endeavour.

Airbus has taken a route that keeps its A321 program, a single-aisle aircraft in the A320 family, moving forward with new variants such as the A321neo, the A321LR, and the upcoming A321XLR.

In a way, this means these jets can now fly transatlantic missions and appeal to new carriers that the series might not have initially. These longer-range services suggest that, in some capacity, it can replace the 757 and offer a more efficient, cheaper alternative for airlines.

Boeing’s lack of a replacement for the 757, paired with the MAX’s inability to operate similar missions, means that, unfortunately for Boeing, its counterpart, Airbus, has this market pretty much wrapped up.

It also shows that Airbus is moving ahead uncontested, which means it can keep developing its A321 series to fill all the potential niches unrivalled.

Roadblocks To Further Boeing 757 Development

So let’s say, though, we did want to develop the 757 further. There are immediate roadblocks that would make it no easy solution. Production of the 757 ended nearly two decades ago, in 2004.

As a result, critical facilities that housed the 757 are no longer in place, and the supply chains that once worked in tandem to produce a 757 have also moved on.

This means that getting the program up and running, even for a simple re-engine, would cost a lot of money, and it would still use a dated airframe. The argument for using a dated body also ties in with some of the key criticisms of the 737 MAX.

The manufacturer took shortcuts by not redesigning the aircraft, instead finding ways to boost efficiency and cut costs by changing engine placement while keeping the same fuselage.

Resuming 757 production while keeping a multi-decade-old design would seem, in a way, hypocritical given what’s happened in recent history.

Boeing’s Next New Aircraft Is Some Time Away

Timing is also another factor. Boeing has already said it won’t return to the drawing board for a new airliner until the 2030s.

This is when they expect technology to have improved. Yes, there are risks in waiting, as technology may not be ready and Boeing could be left in a difficult position.

Hypothetically, if they ignored this and did move forward now, would it be worth it? The 737 MAX is thriving commercially despite supply chain issues, and any new jet would take years to clear. That also ignores all the planning and testing a plane needs.

The truth is, analysts have repeatedly said Boeing missed the boat on a new jet, and now waiting for this new technology is their only viable option.

Understanding That Sometimes Ideas Are Just Ideas

If the company had intended to replace the 737 with an updated 757, some would argue it would’ve happened at the lowest point of the MAX program. This is likely during the lengthy groundings.

However, Boeing moved on with their MAX, knowing it was always set to rebound. Additionally, the plane maker was determined to get the plane re-approved with an already significant backlog.

While many would have liked to see the 757 replace the 737, limitations and much more have made that impossible. Boeing moving ahead with a future small aeroplane, or FSA as it would have been known, makes more sense.

Sometimes, it’s better to leave aircraft in the past. However, the 757’s capabilities will no doubt be an essential focus for Boeing in its next era.

The future is bright nonetheless, and Boeing will be hard at work plotting their next moves in the industry. But what that is remains to be seen.