Boeing's Unbuilt 797 Airliner is So Hot Right Now

Image: PHOTO: A Norwegian Air Boeing 737-8JP. (photo via Flickr/Andrew Thomas)
Image: PHOTO: A Norwegian Air Boeing 737-8JP. (photo via Flickr/Andrew Thomas)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:42 AM ET, Fri June 30, 2017

It may be several years before the new Boeing "797" airliner is put into production, but several airlines are already expressing their interest in the aircraft.

According to CNNMoney.com, Norwegian Air Shuttle CEO Bjorn Kjos said during an interview Wednesday that his airline would be interested in purchasing Boeing's new twin-aisle jet after the manufacturer teased details of the new project during the Paris Air Show.

Industry leaders have unofficially dubbed the new plane the Boeing 797.

While other airlines like United, Alaska, Delta and SpiceJet have also expressed interest in the new aircraft, Kjos believes Boeing won't start taking orders until 2018.

The planes likely won't even be delivered until 2025.

The Norwegian Air CEO said the Boeing 797 would carry an estimated 250 passengers and eventually replace all of the 737 Max jets in the airline's fleet. The 797 would allow the carrier to grow without adding more flights.

[READMORE] READ MORE: What Airline Passengers Should Know and Love About the Boeing 787[/READMORE]

Recently, Norwegian received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fly from European Union destinations to the U.S., which has caused American carriers and labor unions to complain about unfair competition.

On Thursday, Norwegian also took the delivery of its first two single-aisle 737 Max 8 jets from Boeing, marking the continued global expansion of the airline. The carrier has a total order of 100 Boeing 737 Max aircraft waiting to be built and delivered.


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