Chinook747 From Canada, joined Mar 2007, 126 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 11544 times:
I am relatively new to this discussion forum and please forgive if this topic has been brought up before.
I see all the discussions about how much a success the B757 has been for airlines. It can fly virtually anywhere in any kind of weather conditions without any restrictions along with being able to provide both domestic and Trans-Atlantic service.
Why has Boeing discontinued building this aircraft.
Jetjack74 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 7335 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 11531 times:
From what i've been able to understand, it was because of dwindling orders, increased orders for 737's prompted a need open up an additional assembly line for the 737 in RNT. Am I missing anything? The 767 is next, at least for civilian models. The 767 tanker, should it go forward whould be assembled at Boeing Wichita
Scbriml From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 11357 posts, RR: 50 Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 11509 times:
The search function will reveal many threads discussing this very topic!
As hard as it is for the 757 fans here to accept, Boeing closed the line because no airlines were buying the plane. No other reason. It was (is) a great plane, but the airlines stopped buying it.
The A321 and 739 can do 80-90% of what the 757 does, and they can do it at lower cost. Yes, there's the extra 10-20% that only the 757 can do, but most airlines are not using the 757 to its full capabilities.
AirFrnt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2775 posts, RR: 43 Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 11473 times:
The 757 never really hit some of it's initial goals around replacing the 737 in certain markets. I suspect that it also was a bit of bad timing - if Boeing was still making the 757 when the EU/US openskies agreement hit I think there would be a rash of orders for a plane that could handle the intercontinental markets with a more limited seat count.
Instead you have the 739ER which pretty much replaces the 757 with the exception of some of the cargo options.
XT6Wagon From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 3128 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 11453 times:
There was no orders, so it got closed. I think even with the A321 and 739 the 757 would have continued if airlines made the required orders, as it was the line was much better put to 737's which were selling good.
It seems short sighted now because the downturn both downsized the metal flying routes, and higher fuel prices have driven lots of older airframes out of service thus making a shortage of aircraft on the used market of all sizes. However the 757 while still having lower CASM than the 737 and A320 when full, likely wouldn't have sold enough even today to justify keeping the line open instead of its conversion to 737.
Anyhoo the 737RS should move deep into 757 size range, and while it took a while the 737 short field kit makes them very good out of short runways. I can hardly imagine that the lessons learned for that won't be standard fare for the 737RS with some of the more exotic of the additions like sealed flaps will be optional from day 1 or not long after.
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21025 posts, RR: 60 Reply 6, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 11299 times:
Quoting Scbriml (Reply 2): As hard as it is for the 757 fans here to accept, Boeing closed the line because no airlines were buying the plane. No other reason.
That would explain closing the line, but NOT closing the line before all the frames where delivered. They had a few still to build and the airlines wanted them, but Boeing got some to switch to 737s. Same with the 717 line.
The reason both were closed prematurely was that the SoCal facility needed to be closed for cost reasons, and the 757 line needed to be closed to increase 737 production. Both the sooner the better, even if it meant losing some orders to Airbus and Embraer.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Ha763 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 3492 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 11216 times:
Boeing's sales team did try to push for more 757 orders at the end, but were unsuccessful. They approached FX about an order for the 757, but were turned down. After their sales push failed to garner any new orders did they make the decision to close the line.
Bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3012 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 11050 times:
Quoting AirFrnt (Reply 3): The 757 never really hit some of it's initial goals around replacing the 737 in certain markets
It was definitely a 727 replacement; at the time of its entry into service the 737 was only in its -200 form, and remained so for some years.
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 6): That would explain closing the line, but NOT closing the line before all the frames where delivered. They had a few still to build and the airlines wanted them
Whose orders did Boeing cancel; how did they persuade them to accept this ?
Scbriml From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 11357 posts, RR: 50 Reply 11, posted (6 years 1 month 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 10903 times:
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 6): That would explain closing the line, but NOT closing the line before all the frames where delivered.
I don't follow your logic. If no airlines are buying, how is Boeing supposed to keep the line open?
Closing a production line is not a decision that is taken lightly - there are significant one-off costs associated with it. In addition, all the suppliers have to be considered as part of the equation - they all have different lead times for their components. If a component has a six month lead time, then Boeing has to tell that manufacturer to stop making that component six months before the last 757 is built. After that point, there's probably no turning back.
Ilikeflight From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 366 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 9166 times:
because of the 739 and no new orders but Boeing still supports the plane maintenance wise and some of the newer built ones will still fly for another 15 years maybe
JetJeanes From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1415 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 8610 times:
From what i have heard the 767-200 and the 757=200 were not supposed to be used for trans atlantic flights, or that was not their purpose due to the range.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5751 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 8064 times:
While the 757 was overall successful, it wasn't very succesful in replacing the 727. The 757-200 is a larger aircraft than the 727-200. Boeing did propose a 757-100, but was never launched due to weight issues. The 737-400 was then offered as a stopgap 727 replacement, but once again, the 737-400 wasn't very successful in replacing the 727. When Airbus introduced the A320, some airlines began to consider the A320 as a true 727 replacement. At McDonnell Douglas, the MD-90 was offered to some airlines (including Delta) as a 727 replacement, but it failed to match the performance and economics of the A320. Boeing finally introduced the 737-800, which I would definately consider to be Boeing's first true 727 replacement. Delta cancelled their remaining MD-90 orders in favor of the 737-800.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
AA777223 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1112 posts, RR: 7 Reply 20, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 7967 times:
Quoting JetJeanes (Reply 16): From what i have heard the 767-200 and the 757=200 were not supposed to be used for trans atlantic flights, or that was not their purpose due to the range.
The 752 was, I believe, always intended to have light-duty, Intercontinental range. Much like, as we see the east coast to western Europe flights.
I for one have found it really interesting that the 757, which was originally designed as a smaller compliment to its big brother 767, is finding "new life" as what it was originally intended for. It seems when Boeing designed this aircraft, they told airlines it would be perfect for just these sorts of missions, but they instead chose to use them on longer range or higher capacity domestic flights, or short international ones. With the wing, engine, etc. designed to fly high and far, the aircraft is perfect for transatlantic flights. I just wanted to make that observation as it has seemed like an ironic occurrence that now airlines love the plane that it is being used for its original design.
Asgeirs From Iceland, joined May 2001, 513 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 7343 times:
Quoting Bongodog1964 (Reply 9): Whose orders did Boeing cancel; how did they persuade them to accept this ?
Icelandair made an order for two Boeing 757-300 series aircraft in 1997. The first one, TF-FIX, was delivered on March 18th, 2002 and the second one was scheduled for delivery in 2004 or 2005 (don't recall which it was). The latter one was never delivered because Boeing decided to cancel the line. Icelandair has since ordered 4 787-8's which are to be delivered in 2010 and 2012. Maybe they got a good deal on those orders to compensate for the cancellation of the second 757-300.
Rgds,
Asgeir
Reykjavik Aviation Photography - Just bring the aircraft to us and we'll photograph them! :-)
CF188A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 5656 times:
Quoting Humberside (Reply 17): It will be interesting to see what replaces the B757 on transatlantic routes when the likes of CO start retiring them
I think this is where the 787 comes in . I also do not think any airline would sacrifice 757s and fill it's route with a 762/3. I am quite positive they will wait for the 787. I cannot see the 738/9 going transatlantic.
1337Delta764 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 5751 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 5614 times:
Quoting CF188A (Reply 22): I think this is where the 787 comes in . I also do not think any airline would sacrifice 757s and fill it's route with a 762/3. I am quite positive they will wait for the 787. I cannot see the 738/9 going transatlantic.
The 737RS will probably cover the 757-200's market, as stated. You are right about the 737-800 and 737-900, I don't see them going transatlantic anytime soon.
The Pink Delta 767-400ER - The most beautiful aircraft in the sky
September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 24, posted (6 years 1 month 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 5047 times:
Maybe for one reason, 757 was discontinued because of Southwest, the only big US airline without a 757.
AA, CO, DL, NW, UA, US all have 757s.
[Edited 2007-04-16 03:32:12]
Airliners.net of the Future
25 HighFlyer9790: I dont think Boeing saw what the 757's future would bring. trans atlantics and the open-skiea agreement may have kept some juice in the program.
26 Mason: Correction, AS is another big US airline w/o 757 (Boeing tried to sell them some, but no go, obviously). And, 737s are already going across the Atlant
27 Lemurs: ...and yet AS does SEA-MIA and CO does ANC-IAH with 739's anyway. It's not ideal, for sure, but they do it. The 739ER will essentially replace the 75
28 Mason: As only flies the 738 on SEA-MIA, and I believe CO has the 738 on IAH-ANC, but isn't that route is seasonal anyway? The point is that the 738, more ap
29 Lemurs: Not true. They do have only 738's scheduled now, but they have had them regularly scheduled before, in the not-too-distant past even. AS 739 at MIA V
30 EI321: How is the 752 the most economic narrowbody? Its CASMs are similar to that of an A318. If it was economic it would still be selling, unless your refe
31 DEVILFISH: Which is why the rumour currently circulating is quite ironic and amusing at the same time..... RUMOR: AA To Sell 90 757s To Fedex (by AA787823 Apr 1
32 Lemurs: erm, I kind of stepped on my point there, you're right. I was focusing on the 753 which really is the winner in narrowbody circles in terms of pure C
33 EI321: Usually, but not always. The 757 is considerably heavier than say a 739 and of course its older engines are less efficient.
34 Mason: You're right, but my point is that the 739 on the SEA-MIA/MCO runs have proven to have too many range and capacity issues to justify their use, which
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