Boeing is firming up plans for an extended range 737-700ERX that would carry a typical load of around 60 business class passengers on "thin market" routes up to 7,400km (4,000nm) in length.
"This aircraft is 'offerable' and the development time to do that is less than two years," says product strategy and development vice-president, John Roundhill. Describing the long-range twin as the "ultimate fragmentor" of trunk services, he adds that winglets will be "made available". A blended winglet design for the 737 has been flight tested on a 737-800 and is being marketed by newly formed Aviation Partners Boeing for Next Generation operators. Lauda Air is among airlines that have either ordered or expressed strong interest in the modification.
The 737-700ERX builds on the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) that combines the wings, engines and gear of the -800 with the fuselage of the -700. Like the BBJ, the -700ERX will also use up to four auxiliary fuel tanks similar to those developed by BBJ supplier PATS. The aircraft will seat up to 138 people in some configurations, so could be used by charter operators for long-range missions.
Boeing foresees the -700ERX as catering to specialist business operations, however, with up to 60 passengers in 1.4m (55in) pitch seating, or a mix of business and economy with 75 seats.
• Boeing rounded-off $3 billion worth of new order announcements at the Paris air show by revealing further deals with several operators for an additional 21 Next Generation 737s, one 757 and three 767s.
Tarom ordered four 737-700s and four -800s, Lauda Air is to take one 767-300ER, Delta Air Lines wants six 737-800s, one 757-200 and two 767-300ERs, Hapag Lloyd signed for one 737-800 and Southwest Airlines requires six 737-700s.
Source: Flight International
