The future of the 757

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Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 269

It is no secret that orders for my favourite airliner, the 757, are beginning to dry up. The 757-300 has injected a few new orders into the series, but not many. Now that the Airbus A320 series seems to be very intense competition for the aircraft (especially the A321), do people think Boeing should begin designing a new medium range jet to replace the 757, or continue to re-hash old designs as they have been doing for several years?(Actually, the same can apply to the 747 and the 767 production line as well.)

Original post

RE: The future of the 757

I think the B757 is a really nice plane. I can´t understand why there so few orders. I think what happens is that avionics is getting probably old fashioned. I don´t like the B757-300, too long. Boeing should modernized it. Probably Boeing wants to go ahead with the B737 family (the B737-800) is perhaps the equivalent of the B757. So there´s not space for twi aircrafts in the same segment.

RE: The future of the 757

Well, even if production does stop soon, Boeing shouldn't complain. They will have delivered over 1,000 757's to airlines all over the world. Many thought the aircraft would have been lucky to sell 500 back in the 1980's.

RE: The future of the 757

fortunately, we have a new startup airline here in Holland called "Dutch Bird"
they fly ex Condor (germany) boeing 757`s, they now own just 1 of them,but they
expect to own 3 757`s in March!!
Condor is seling the planes as they want to operate RR engined 757`s only!
And..........I get to see more of those beuitiful jet-liners!!!!!
Transavia airlines and Air Holland fly the 757 too. And it is a great looking aircraft to see!
At this moment there are 2 (!!!) other charter-airlines starting up on Amsterdam:
Holland Hapag LLoyd and.......(not yet operational) VIPJET.
The Holland Hapag LLoyd uses B 737-300/400 (not really sure)
And VIPJET will operate Airbus A-321 jets.
So maybe you`ll see them sometime when your`e soaking up sunshine in the Meditarrainian region next summer!!!

RE: The future of the 757

We have several 757 operators in Holland

Transavia airlines , Air Holland , Martinair , DutchBird.
so we are getting more and more 757`s on Amsterdam!!!!!
Yippieeeeeeee!!!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 88

RE: The future of the 757

I think 757 is good airplane because it can be used both short-haul, high-load routes, for example between European capitals and on international routes which not require large airplane. And it is fuel-efficient.
Multi-role fighter of the civil aviation!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 465

RE: The future of the 757

Well personally, I think that the 757 will be the 737 of it's generation. As per the previous comment by Matilainen, it is a versatile aircraft which can be used for many roles. I think that whilst not many more will be made, it's versatility will keep it in the air for many years to come. Whilst I am not an advocate of either Airbus or Boeing, it's all very well to 'knock' boeing for their so called re-hashes of old aircraft, (the 757, 737, 727 and 707 have all got the same cabin cross section too) but these are tried and tested airframe designs. Just look at how long the 737 has been in service for... Older models of 757's are being refurbished for cargo use and will fly for a long time to come... The 707 of the 21st century????

Paul.

RE: The future of the 757

Well, Boeing could update the avionics of the aircraft and perhaps stick more modern engines on it for increased fuel efficiency, but keep the aircraft the same size as the -200. Perhaps winglets may help it too. The 757 has the lowest seat/mile cost of any medium range jet, and if Boeing improved this even further, they could probably sell quite a few. Maybe some could be sold to replace the early 757s which are rapidly approaching retirement age.

Ah well, just a thought. B757-400. Now that does sound interesting.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 123

RE: The future of the 757

B-757 alive and kicking!

Not that I like or dislike B-757 but a little information on its future.
Boeing Gets Confirmed Orders for 33 757-300 Aircraft in January

Seattle, Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Boeing Co., the world's biggest airplane maker, said it received 33 confirmed orders for the single-aisle 757-300 aircraft in January, bringing the total orders for the airplane to 62.

Boeing said it received orders from Continental Airlines for 15 757-300s and from Northwest Airlines for 18 of the aircraft, the company said in a statement distributed by PRNewswire.

Boeing orders may decline as much as 30 percent this year because of the weakening U.S. economy and higher fuel prices, First Union Securities analyst Sam Pearlstein said last month.

Continental will add the planes to its domestic routes. Northwest will replace its fleet of DC 10-40s with the planes, Boeing said.

RE: The future of the 757

Well, that is excellent news. Thanks for the info!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 123

RE: The future of the 757

U bet V1

RE: The future of the 757

I´ve just returned from the UK and I had the pleasure of flying in the copit (the pilots were friends of mine) from MAD and I really found the plane really stable, with a fantastic power in take off and really modern. The officer had been former DC-10 Viasa pilot and had flown many models and told that it was one of the best in the world. Even landing with 50 knots at my hometown the turbulences weren´t too serious. A B737 can´t have such a fantastic performance.

RE: The future of the 757

The power to weight ratio of the 757 is second to none. Airlines have had to de-rate the RR RB211-535E4 powerplant, such is the power. I've flown on many 757's in my life, and take off is always great in one. You can feel the power, especially if the aircraft is not that heavy.

RE: The future of the 757

I think it is outragous that anyone should be thinking about replaceing the 757. It is a beautiful aircraft so slender. I really love planes. I collect models. I'm a great fan of them. I have been on Brittannia Airways 757. It is so popostrous. I am outraged. THE 757 IS COOL. 100%!!!!

RE: The future of the 757

Could anyone tell me that when you take off when you are speaking about power is that what gives you that pull in your head feeling the engines kicking in cos going on a 757 in may and not been on one for years and the airbus 320 and 321 do not have this but on the 767 i found this very not liking can you give me any info please about the 757 also about this pulling in my head when taking off cheers mate any will do thanks

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,253

RE: The future of the 757

You can't compare it to the 767...
I haven't been on a 757 for about a while, but you can really feel the power when you're on the runway, no other plane has given me that high on lining up.
The RB211-535 has to be my favourite engine. And not just because my uncle used to work for RR, either!

RE: The future of the 757

Here here!!! The 757 is the best airliner ever built. Forget crummy old DC-8's and 707's, the 757 is the most elegant jetliner ever built.

As for take off power...I have flown on the 767 too, and the thrust power was ok, but not a patch on the 75'. I tell you another good type on take off, the 737-300.

I really think Boeing should go for a -400 variant. With a few updates, it could sell well. Just look at how well all those updated 737 models sell....

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,253

RE: The future of the 757

I also really like the 757-200, but the -300 looks wrong. It's too long. As for a -400, what would it's market be?
I have to say that the -200 only really sold in the US, and to BA. With BA commited to smaller planes, (the A320 mainly), and most 757 operators in the US now commited to A320 family aircraft, I can't see a market. I'm not sure what the difference in capacity between the -200 and the A321 is, but it can't be a lot. So, who would buy the -400?
The -300 would have had a better market, but it was about 10-15 too late. If it had come out mid to late 80's, I suspect a lot more companies would have built a family of -200 and -300s.
I fear that's it for the 757, and, unless Boeing develop something new soon, they won't have anything that wasn't developed 30-40 years ago, bar the 777, and things could look bleak for them.

RE: The future of the 757

To say that the 757 has only sold well in the US and to BA is not entirely correct, there are many of the type operated in Asia too. Several Chinese carriers have them, not to mention the likes of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Royal Brunei, Royal Nepal et al.

BA is currently the largest operator of the type in Europe, although this crown will be taken away as they are in the process of selling most of theirs to Boeing for freighter conversion. The likes of Britannia (UK, Sweden and Germany) have a large fleet, and Iberia have a few. JMC is expanding their charter fleet with both -200 and -300 variants. What about Condor? They have loads of 'em!

As for a -400, as much as I would like to see one, I doubt it will happen. If Boeing upgraded the 757 as they do every 15-20 years with the 737, it could sell. Don't forget that the 757 has been in service since Dec 1982, and the oldest examples need replacing soon. Boeing could aim it at current 757 operators who are needing to retire their old -200's soon.

I agree with you 100% about the -300 though. As much as I like the -200, the -300 looks a bit too long and thin. Reminds me a bit of Douglas when they streched their DC-8 to the Super -70. Whatever happens though, the type will be in production for a while longer yet, and we'll be seeing them in the skies for many years to come, and I'm certainly not going to complain at that prospect!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,253

RE: The future of the 757

I said 'only really sold' in the US and to BA. No-one else has fleets of over 20-odd aircraft. With the possible exception of Britannia and JMC (post-merge).
Condor don't have masses of them, they don't have any -200's, they only have the dozen or so -300's. Hardly masses.
LTU are the German charter carrier who's used -200's, but since being bought by SAirGroup, I suspect they'll focus more on the A320's for short to medium haul flights, if just for comonality. They've already ditched their MD-11's for A330's.

RE: The future of the 757

Point taken. I must have out of date info, as I have a fleet list of Condor, and they have got quite a few -200's in their fleet.

I think Airbus has well and truly killed the 757 in terms of sales. I like the A320 series very much, and so do the airlines by the look of things. As was mentioned in an earlier post, BA are replacing their 757's with a mix of '320 variants (although not the 321, as far as I know) and the likes of United are building up large fleets.

Say mate, you know your stuff!