Why the 737 That Crashed Is Boeing’s Best-Selling Plane Ever
The way we fly has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. Jumbo jets are losing favor and being replaced by planes like the Boeing 737: smaller, fuel-efficient aircraft capable of traveling greater distances.
Now, nine out of every 10 passenger flights in the United States are on these smaller planes. They have an engine under each wing, often single-aisle cabins and perhaps less legroom than you’d want.
The recent crash in Ethiopia involved a Max 8, one of the latest in the 737 line, which has become the industry’s workhorse. There are a half-dozen types of the plane, and competitors like Airbus have their own popular models. Southwest flies the 737 exclusively and has more than 30 Max 8s.
Based on preliminary evidence, officials have suggested that a flight stabilization system could have been involved in the accident, which bore striking similarity to last year’s Lion Air crash of another Max 8. Earlier models of the 737 do not come equipped with the system.
The repercussions of the accidents could endanger a big moneymaker for Boeing. There are thousands of Maxes on order, according to the company.
The shift to smaller planes over the last generation was driven partly by technological advancements: Giant planes were no longer the only ones that could fly fast enough or hold enough fuel for long journeys.
The shift was also a result of changing demand. As the American population grew, more people began flying. They increasingly sought out longer, direct flights over shorter trips that involved layovers at congested airports.
By 2011, airlines began placing orders for the latest version of the 737, the Max 8. It was billed as having better fuel efficiency and more advanced technology. The Max, which starts at around $100 million per plane, quickly became Boeing’s best-selling model.
After two versions of the Max — the 8 and 9 — were grounded earlier this week, Boeing on Thursday said that it would temporarily halt deliveries of the plane.
The outstanding orders represent almost a half-trillion dollars in revenue for the company over the coming years.