Qantas Wanted The Boeing 797

Australian flag carrier Qantas was one of the many airlines interested in the prospect of a Boeing mid-market airliner.

Often dubbed the 797, this jet was intended to enhance the flag carrier’s network across Australia and nearby cities.

However, with no aircraft released, Qantas was forced to look elsewhere. So, what happened, what was the aircraft and what’s next?

What Is The Boeing 797?

The 797 drew significant attention to Boeing throughout the 2010s, considered a critical juncture where proceeding with a new plane was necessary.

If released, the aircraft would have slotted between the 737 MAX and the 787, thus providing a more modest alternative for airlines seeking neither one nor the other.

Given the unreleased nature of the type, details on the plane have remained scarce. Analysts predicted the jet would have a modest capacity and capabilities to fly 4,500 to 5,000 nautical miles with two variants initially offered.

The hope was that an NMA jet would be able to meet growing demand across many different route segments that required such a type, similar to what the A321XLR can do.

Additionally, the NMA would have been a clean-sheet design, looking to incorporate new technologies from engines to much more. The aircraft would be able to meet growing demand across various route segments, thus continuing to offer the flexibility that airlines desire.

Qantas Expresses Interest

With specifications outlined and the prospect of a 757/767 replacement entering the industry, Australian flag carrier Qantas emerged as a potential customer.

On several occasions throughout the latter stages of the 2010s, Qantas stated that it was interested in the New Midsize aeroplane, known as the 797, at a time when Boeing was gauging interest from around the world for such a jet.

Boeing also believed that the NMA would be well-suited for the Australian market, with a requirement to serve cities within the country, as well as beyond, where strong capacity restrictions are in place.

With the range also meaning that domestic markets, as well as cities in South East Asia and Japan, were within reach, according to the planemaker’s sales officer at the time, it presented an opportunity unlike any other for an airline like Qantas.

In 2017, Alan Joyce, the former CEO, further stated that the economics on paper looked very good ahead of time, specifically at the first delivery of the 787-9.

However, this didn’t mean an order was set to come, let alone that Boeing would proceed with such a plane.

These discussions further emerged in 2019 when the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the airline was considering replacing its short-haul fleet and specifically looking to increase its capacity.

With the renewal at this point expected to be confirmed in 2020, before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was considerable interest in the NMA, dubbed the 797 from Qantas, but scepticism remained.

If Qantas were to commit to the jet, Boeing would need to build it; additionally, for the plane maker, there would need to be enough customer interest to produce the jet.

What Happened To The Aircraft?

However, despite interest from Qantas and other leading international airlines such as Delta wanting to purchase the jet, a rumoured 797 did not eventuate.

In the end, Boeing would not move ahead with production on a clean sheet and would cede the sector to Airbus, which took the opportunity to move forward with its A321XLR in a bid to capitalise on the market.

Several factors contributed to Boeing’s decision not to proceed with the 797 project, which had considerable promise and generated significant interest within the aviation industry.

First, there was the 737 MAX crisis, which unfolded in 2018 and 2019 but would ultimately continue well into the 2020s, decimating the once-proud planemaker.

These crashes and their ramifications consumed much of Boeing’s resources and diverted attention away from new endeavours, such as the NMA, and meant that new jets were no longer in the equation.

At the beginning of 2020, amid quality challenges to the 737 MAX and other aircraft, travel demand plummeted due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, which also hindered innovation.

Many airlines postponed aircraft orders and focused on trying to survive rather than placing new orders. When factoring in Boeing’s situation, it seemed far too complex to move ahead with a new jet.

The Future Of Qantas

With the Boeing 797 out of the equation, Qantas had to begin looking elsewhere for the renewal of its single-aisle fleet and replacements, therefore for the 737-800.

In May 2022, following a significant postponement driven by the pandemic, Qantas Group confirmed that it would proceed with its fleet renewal program and had selected Airbus to support this initiative.

As part of the agreement, Qantas stated that it would, at the time, purchase 20 Airbus A321XLRs, the first of which is expected to arrive in the coming days as part of plans to move forward and enhance its single-aisle operations.

The A321XLR was confirmed to complement the A220, which was ordered for QantasLink operations and has helped replace the 717, thanks to technological advancements.

Therefore, Qantas’ interest in the 797 highlights more of what could have been rather than what eventuated. Instead, Qantas will move forward without Boeing.