Glad to see United do this. The reality is that the 797 might have been a better (as in more comfortable for passengers) aircraft, it was going to be less efficient for smaller applications where the A321neoLR was the perfect fit. It is a really nice aircraft, and frankly I would much rather spend 6-7 hours in it in Y than a 757, let alone a 737, and I would take it any day over a 777 at 10x across.

I just wish they would have gotten earlier slots.

I think this is the takeway. The business case for the A321neoLR - even without a stretch and wing improvements, which Airbus could do for a few billion - just swamps the 797. The 797 made sense if it could capture the 757 and 763 markets, with the replacement of the 757s at some carriers having now committed to the A321neoLR (which now has 283 orders). UA and AA both ordered 50 each, Delta will follow at some point (no way they take the 797), and suddenly part of the 797 market is gone.

Boeing under it's current leadership "never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity" (credit to Abba Eban). late 90s, new narrow body 737 replacement, no lets squeeze the goose. Airbus jumps ahead, forces NG. Lets spend less and offshore the 787, put off a narrow body till its done. 787 delays put off new narrow body, put Boeing behind the 8 ball. Airbus jumps on the neo, forces Boeing to go with the inferior MAX due to an inability to get a replacement aircraft out in time. Now the MAX disaster has caused the 797 business case to go away due to (a) lack of investment, and (b) prior disasters due to lack of investment.

Lets be clear on what this is, Boeing is now the second string, lower quality aircraft provider, it has become what McDonald Douglas was when McDonald Douglas management took over Boeing. Boeing is now no longer the Boeing it was pre-1990s.

Bottom line is that Boeing is going to have to accept much lower margins and invest the $15B+ that it will cost for a new narrow-body with cabin fiber and better fuel burn. Do a 170 seat version, a 220 seat version, and perhaps a further stretch to 250 seats with a lower range. Make the floor another 4-5" inches wider than the A321neoLR, to allow slightly larger aisles, and then give another .5" in width to each of the Y seats. Would make the plane more comfortable for longer flights, and is a much smaller issue weight wise with a cabin fiber design. Unless Boeing does this, it will stop being a major compitor in the narrow body market with the much nicer A321neo and A220-300 taking away orders from the MAX.

I love the 757 in F/J. Second door boarding is great. But in Y (and also in F/J with the wider cabin and more modern design) the A321 is a much more comfortable plane, with 7" more width, meaning that the seats are a full 1" wider.