Originally Posted by
Radiohead71
Boeing wanted to keep the line open, but no airlines were buying at the time.
Yes, times were tough in 2003-2004 and there weren't any orders. The failure isn't in shutting down production, it was in failing to keep the program alive for when the industry recovered. A Next-Generation 757, along the lines of the NG737 would have likely been successful. There is, quite simply, no replacement for the 757 on the market or even on the drawing board. It is, without question, one of the most versatile airplanes ever produced, capable of handling everything from short-haul high density routes (for which it was designed as a 727 replacement) to transatlantic flights. I had read somewhere recently that Boeing was considering some sort of project for a replacement. IMO, that can't come quickly enough. It's a solid airframe that needs more fuel efficient engines, improved avionics and lighter weight by replacing some of the structure with composites. That isn't a lot of reworking for a design that is 35 years old. I'd add that the 767 could use a similar reworking as there really isn't a good replacement for it either.