Boeing 737NEXt (New Engine eXtra) Production Plans

Based on the present configuration of Boeing 737NG production capacity, and if Boeing decides on a major revamp of the design it may do:

1. New aluminum alloys and additional composites on the fuselage to leverage present Spirit AeroSystems production capacity.
2. Aerodynamic reprofiling to reduce drag
3. Optimized composite wings to compensate higher engine weight and drag. Composite outer skin may provide better wing shaping and better laminar flow while staying with present wing structures
4. New gate-to-gate trip optimization avionics
5. More spacious cabin through better seating configuration, seat design, and cabin wall optimization at shoulder and knee level

Possible new production lines for the re-engined Boeing 737NG that I call the Boeing 737NEXt (New Engine eXtra), aside from the current Renton, Washington production lines are

1. Near the Spirit AeroSystems plant in Wichita, Kansas where present Boeing 737NG fuselages are assembled

2. The C-17 plant in Long Beach, California where Boeing is winding down its C-17 production, that was originally the main plant of McDonnel Douglas and where the Boeing 717 was also assembled

3. Near the new 787 North Charleston, South Carolina assembly plant

Aside from financial and logistical considerations, Boeing should add into consideration force majeure probability considerations. This will include the Japanese earthquake and consequent tsunami lessons, hurricane threat, flooding, political upheavals, etc.

Boeing's production capacity is highly concentrated in Washington state and Kansas to some extent. It may be a prudent move to locate other Boeing 737NEXt plants in other areas as enumerated above, and other safe areas.

Naming the Re-engined Boeing 737NG

From Boeing 737NG - New Generation

To

Boeing 737NGE - New Generation Engine/Enhanced, or

Boeing 737NEW - New Engine, Wider, or

Boeing 737NEX - New Engine eXtra

The Boeing 737NG re-engining should be simple and budgeted at $1 billion maximum to fund for the Boeing 797 introduction in 2020.

Other design criteria

1. Minimal Boeing 737NG production line disturbances
2. Maximum Boeing 737NG commonality
3. 15% operating cost advantage over Boeing 737NG
4. Wider cabin with better wall interior fittings
5. Better more spacious seats and seating configuration, similar to Air New Zealand concept

It should come out before the A320NEO at the -800 version size in 2014, then the -900 version in 2015. If the costs are right, these can be assembled in the Long Beach C-17 plant that is winding down production. And/Or in the area of the new 787 plant in South Carolina.

The -700 and -600 versions should transition directly to the new Boeing 797 to cover the CSeries and new Embraer competitors.

Boeing Offers B737NGE New Generation Engine for American Airlines Order

While Boeing lost out to Airbus in the American Airlines order battle by

1. Losing supply monopoly of more than 2 decades
2. Number and Price of aircraft ordered (Airbus has 60 more orders and 265 more options)

it also wins with 43.5% (100 B737 + 100 B737NGE  vs  130 A320 + 130 A320NEO) of the order and less than 22% (40 B737 + 60 B737NGE  vs  85 A320 + 280 A320NEO) of the options.

However, the big Boeing win is that it has stabilized its design position on the B737 - Re-engine. This is also a win for airlines that operate B737's, specially Southwest Airlines, that now has their flight efficiency path assured for the next 10 years.

As to the B797 New Small Airplane, I think Boeing will still pursue this for 2020 introduction but will cover the 150-below passenger count to cover the Bombardier CSeries competitor, and plug the hole in its product line range. As I have said before, it can be a win-win situation for them if Boeing and Embraer can cooperate on this.

My preferred name for the new B737 variant is Boeing 737 NGE - New Generation Engine/Enhanced.