Originally Posted by
DaveReidUK
You can't have it both ways.
The A320 certainly has significant advantages over the 737, which is no surprise given that it came along 20 years later.
So what makes you think that an all-new aircraft 30 years further down the road than the A320 wouldn't be able to offer a corresponding leap over it in technology and capability ?
It's a good question.
If Boeing can design an aircraft that offers superior safety / fly by wire characteristics / ergonomics to the A320 family of aircraft, they'd be on a winner.
Unfortunately for them, I think that technology has largely plateaued since the A320 introduction. The only major change is in engine efficiency. The 787 and A350 are certainly incremental improvements, but largely offer a refinement (albeit larger) of the A320 FBW concept.
For Boeing, shrinking the 787 into a new 737 replacement would need to do a lot more than the A320 to be a best seller. Size aside, the 787 and the A320 are largely equals in terms of technology and safety. If the tech was there, Boeing would have it on show already in the 787.