Will Boeing’s next all new aircraft – the one all passengers are going to love - be called the 797 or the 808? That is the question that industry observers are pondering as Boeing considers the launch of its New Midsize Aircraft (NMA). Boeing is moving forward with the evaluation of the production plan and business case for the NMA which will have two aisles and a 2-3-2 cross-section in economy. Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President Marketing Randy Tinseth told AirlineRatings.com that the interest in the NMA is “very high.” SEE: Spectacular night photos Mr. Tinseth says Boeing “is working toward a decision on the NMA within the next year.” However, some speculate that the launch could come later or even at the Farnborough Air Show starting on July 18^th. Airline CEOs and presidents around the world have expressed huge interest in the NMA. Boeing is talking to 50 airlines to define the final configuration. While the go-ahead is a matter of when not if the designation of the aircraft is raising questions. Traditionally Boeing would go with the 7 series designation, which is the most powerful brand in commercial aviation today. That branding started in the 1950s with the 707. WATCH Boeing interiors of the future. However, the 797 would be the last of that series and the next logical numbering would be the 808 which would have major marketing hype in China which is one of Boeing’s biggest markets. And “eight” is a big winner with the 787 so there is a connection. Earlier this month Mr. Tinseth said the aircraft will not push boundaries but rather pull the very best of the 787 and 777X into an aircraft optimized for the 10-hour flight time. Mr. Tinseth said that Boeing believes that the market size for the NMA is between 4000 and 5000 aircraft over 20 years. The NMA will seat between 220 and 270 passengers and fly for about 10 to 11 hours only. However, the concept is not new. Both Boeing and McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing) tried to interest airlines in the concept in the 1980s but couldn’t get enough takers at the time. McDonnell Douglas concept for a 2-2-2 economy class aircraft in 1980. It was called the ATMR and later the DC-11. However, today the situation in economy is very different, with passenger complaints about cramped seating in traditional 3-3 configurations soaring making the NMA’s 2-3-2 layout very appealing.

Making the twin-engine 797 so special is the fact it is designed from the outset to serve medium-haul routes of up to 9,300kms and will cut fuel costs by 25 to 30 percent compared to the 787- itself the world leader in fuel economy. Boeing says that there are 30,000 city pairs that are not connected and could be served economically with the NMA. Writing for Seeking Alpha Edward Ambrose suggests that a Boeing commitment to the NMA will lift its stock price. He says Boeing CEO Denis Muilenburg expects the Boeing 797 will be announced by early 2019. “Boeing will want a flashy announcement with firm orders from launch customers with coverage of the unique features and passenger comforts. The stock will increase as investors view it as a sign of stronger growth,” says Ambrose. “The announcement could come at the Farnborough airshow in July but more likely at the Singapore show in February.”