Replacement for 757 Mooted

摘要

Boeing could soon announce whether it will develop a new medium-sized airliner capable of replacing its out-of-production 757, according to an airline executive. Peter Foster, the President of Kazakh national carrier Air Astana, stated at a June media event that there had been recent discussions between the airline and the American manufacturer. He said: "[Boeing] made absolutely clear that this [idea] is now firming up and that they'll be making an announcement soon". If launched the new aircraft could enter the market in the mid-2020s. Boeing Chairman W James McNerney recently acknowledged to investors, "we are examining [the idea] seriously". However, he added, "we don't see a need for it immediately as compared to some other opportunities we've got," a reference to the 777X and 787-10 development programmes. The last of 1,050 Boeing 757 was built in 2004, but the type remains popular with many US carriers on transcontinental passenger and cargo routes.