Aircraft Leasing Companies encourage Boeing to build replacement of 757

Aircraft leasing companies have been encouraging aircraft manufacturing company Boeing to come up with a replacement for its discontinued 757. The companies also said that priority of all aircraft manufacturing companies must be to work on existing orders.

During a press conference, Steven Udvar-Hazy, chief executive officer of American aircraft leasing company Air Lease Corp, and some of the industry's most influential figures said that a jet with 200 to 250 seats will be in great demand in near future. As the jet will be in demand in next eight to 12 years, Boeing will have enough time to focus on upgrading its smaller 737 jet that has capacity of 85 to 215 passengers. It will also allow the company to make improvements in engine.

The Chicago headquartered company's 757 jet had discontinued services several years ago. The last 757 was delivered about 10 years ago, but the jet remained popular with the United States airlines due to its performance. Boeing's 767 was replaced by the 787 Dreamliner, which is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner.

In a conference organized by the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading, Udvar-Hazy said, "In the Boeing family, there might be a gap between the largest 737 and the smallest 787 as the 767 fades away".

During the conference, Boeing said that it has talked to its customers about an aircraft larger than a 757 with about 20% more range. The company has not revealed whether its plan was favored by the customers or not. Boeing has previously stated that it will not design a direct successor to 737 MAX until next one and half decade. It also ruled out the idea of a small twin-aisle plane.

According to president of CIT Transportation and International Finance, Jeff Knittel, Boeing should offer a family of aircraft rather than just one model. It should also think to fill the gap between big and small jets.