Next generation aircraft – what Airbus and Boeing need

In a recent interview, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury indicated that the company is moving forward with their next generation aircraft, a new narrow-body replacement. Airbus plans milestones of engine selection in 2027, offering the aircraft in 2030, and entry into service about 2037.  Boeing’s CEO Kelly Orterg indicated that the company is also studying replacements, but market readiness, technology readiness, and financial readiness all need to be positive to introduce a new airplane.  As a result, and Boeing’s continuing turnaround, the company is unlikely to announce anything regarding a next generation aircraft in the near term.

The Next Generation Aircraft

Before 2040, we’ll have new aircraft in service from both of the major OEMs, as both the A320neo family and 737 MAX will become technology obsolete. The A320 family first entered service in 1989 and the 737 in 1967, so both programs are based on dated designs. It is a given that commercial aircraft programs have a long production life, so we can expect the next generation aircraft to remain in production through about 2060 and in service until 2080.  That means that the next few years will be critical for the design and what that next generation of commercial aircraft will entail.