It seems Boeing is doing a 180 on its stance regarding new engines for the 737, due to the offer Airbus made to American Airlines on NEOs.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-boeing-reportedly-offers-737s-with-new-engine-to-seal-20b-american-order-20110719,0,564197.storyFirst article I could find. Wonder who'll win this battle.

It seems Boeing is doing a 180 on its stance regarding new engines for the 737, due to the offer Airbus made to American Airlines on NEOs.

AA ordered 260 A320s split between the current generation and the NEO, and 200 737s split between the NG and an 'expected' re-engined variant. Fantastic to see a new lease of life for the 737, I hope it can be as successful as the A320neo has been. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/07/20/359710/boeing-promises-re-engined-737.html

This isn't making any sense. A huge new fleet type but also a promise to stick with a current type. WTH American?

http://www.chicagotr...,0,564197.storyFirst article I could find. Wonder who'll win this battle.

Yhea, I first read it this morning in the printed edition of the Chicago Tribune. And I agree, splitting the order doesnt initially make much sense to me. Maybe when one of the pencil pushers gets infront of the cameras and explains it, he will offer some insight.

The problem is that one manufacturer alone doesn't have the production capacity to fulfill an order of that size in the timeframe given by AAL (around 2020). Not Boeing and certainly not Airbus, who are - thanks to AirAsia - basically sold out already.AAL want the new aircraft yesterday and the Maddogs wfu fast. The MD-80 is the most inefficent aircraft in their fleet and a press release attributed the $286 million Q2 loss to an 31% increase in fuel costs. So the 737NGs and A320s will probably replace the MD-80 due to the fact that they are already available.So, what will the 737RE look like and even more important: Will we get a model extension for the NGX by PMDG?

Yhea, I first read it this morning in the printed edition of the Chicago Tribune. And I agree, splitting the order doesnt initially make much sense to me. Maybe when one of the pencil pushers gets infront of the cameras and explains it, he will offer some insight.

I imagine it's as simple as wanting at least 460 aeroplanes delivered at a controlled rate between 2013 and 2022: probably neither Boeing nor Airbus has the capacity to fulfil such a big order on its own, without compromsing existing orders.Tim

AMERICAN AIRBUS? NO <_<Looks like we will have to cut down trees prior to the A320 arrival.Save the trees people.

The problem is that one manufacturer alone doesn't have the production capacity to fulfill an order of that size in the timeframe given by AAL (around 2020). Not Boeing and certainly not Airbus, who are - thanks to AirAsia - basically sold out already.AAL want the new aircraft yesterday and the Maddogs wfu fast. The MD-80 is the most inefficent aircraft in their fleet and a press release attributed the $286 million Q2 loss to an 31% increase in fuel costs. So the 737NGs and A320s will probably replace the MD-80 due to the fact that they are already available.So, what will the 737RE look like and even more important: Will we get a model extension for the NGX by PMDG?

Doesn't look like much of a change to me, PMDG will only have to slap on some new parts if any at all.

Sounds like Airbus knew it all along...http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/commercial_aviation/ThingsWithWings/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbb&plckPostId=Blog%3A7a78f54e-b3dd-4fa6-ae6e-dff2ffd7bdbbPost%3A181a035f-7ef2-422b-b170-3eb905f577eb&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

Airbus's Leahy Called Boeing's NSA BluffPosted by Robert Wall at 7/20/2011 8:51 AM CDTIf Boeing had listened to one of the top people at rival Airbus it might not have taken so long to figure out its narrowbody product strategy.Airbus chief operating officer for customers, John Leahy, has called it all along: Boeing would end up with a 737 re-engining program.But it is not just that Leahy got it right about where Boeing would end up, he pretty much scripted how his rival would get there. Boeing would spend a lot of time talking about launching something new, only to retrench when Airbus showed its offering was gaining market traction. Leahy liked to invoke the concept of the 7J7 which Boeing talked about when Airbus originally launched the A320. It launched the program, only to kill it and instead birthed the 737NG. This time around, Boeing talked a lot about the NSA – new small aircraft. Boeing may still continue talking about the NSA as an eventual 737 replacement, but it now looks like the NSA is much more of a rival to the A30X, Airbus’s still far off A320 replacement, than competition the A320NEO will face.

You do realize AAL already flew Airbuses in the past, right? :( It feels kinda strange though,to know one of my future trips to NY with AA could be in a Scarebus...But I suspect the only , or at least a major, reason for splitting the order is the availability.

Now I just have to double check on which flight I book on AAL.

You do realize AAL already flew Airbuses in the past, right? :( It feels kinda strange though,to know one of my future trips to NY with AA could be in a Scarebus...But I suspect the only , or at least a major, reason for splitting the order is the availability.

Yeah. Wide bodies.

Will PMDG replicate the new engines? Michael Pare.

Yes, the production capacity certainly makes sense. It seems AAL wants to ditch the MD 80 now, or more like last year from now. Very interested to hear more about the new 737. Seems that Boeing will start the process quickly here with those new engines, something about September of this year.

Will PMDG replicate the new engines? Michael Pare.

It is not only the new engines, wings will be changed to accomodate heavier engines and undercarriage have to be made taller (so larger engines will have enough ground clearance), and Boeing won't be ready with this new aircraft until I believe 2017. Ask PMDG in 2018 :(