Airbus has racked up over 780 firm orders for the A320NEO since announcing its availability and even I have to say that I’m quite surprised at how fast that happened.  It would appear that airlines vocalized a desire for a new aircraft and ordered the re-engine like it was the best thing to happen since the Concorde.

There is absolutely, positively, no question that Boeing needs to get back in the game ASAP.  Theoretically, they did with the American Airlines order but . . . both Boeing and all other airlines have largely been silent on the 737RE since that order.

I was certain that we would hear other airlines grumble about being kept out of the loop or shout with joy that they, too, wanted to order the aircraft.  Instead, we learn at Southwest Airlines’ earnings call that they were kept in the loop and . . .

Nothing.  They were kept in the loop and  they endorse the aircraft but no other talk of an order.

The 737RE doesn’t have board approval to offer . . . yet .  However, in this particular case this really is a formality.  The lack of any other orders even getting mentioned as rumours tells us just how fast the AA deal was put together.  No one else is any farther along. 

I repeat, Boeing really needs to get back into the game.  Numbers are perception and Boeing knows how well it did when it was running up the 787 numbers in the early days.  Perception is as important as facts when it comes to whether or not an airline views your aircraft as leading edge.

Right now, we don’t even know what the 737-RE will be called and that’s kind of bad.

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