737 Next Gen gets boost from new interior, performance enhancements  

The current thinking by airframe manufacturers is that replacements for today’s single-aisle best sellers like the 737 are likely at least a decade away. That belief prompted Boeing to recently announce several cabin and performance enhancements aimed at keeping its Next Generation line fresh and focused on delivering customer value.

It unveiled a new 737 Boeing Sky interior, based on advances developed for the new 787 Dreamliner, as well as operational improvements to structure and engines that will improve the NG’s fuel efficiency.

Sky Interior is 787 inspired – Announced in late April, the new Boeing Sky Interior for the next-Generation 737 draws on the company’s extensive 787 passenger experience research to create a more appealing, and quiet, in-flight environment. Seven carriers, including Continental, have signed up to receive updated interiors starting in late 2010.

The Sky Interior features new, 787-style modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals that draw passenger’ eyes to the airplane’s windows, better connecting them to the flying experience. The design offers larger, pivoting overhead storage bins that add to cabin openness, and redesigned reading-light switches and integrated PA-system speakers to improve the passenger experience among other features.

The 737 improvements are more than cosmetic. Boeing is targeting a two percent reduction in fuel consumption by 2011 through a combination of airframe and engine improvements. Moves such as reshaping structural elements and re-contouring the engine nozzle will reduce drag, improving fuel efficiency by about one percent. CFM, which supplies the NG’s CFM56-7 engines, will contribute another one percent cent through hardware change to the power plant. Together, these will reduce the airplane’s fuel use by two percent, representing up to $160,000 in operating costs per airplane annually.