Interesting - I'd be suprised if they make a formal launch announcement as early as this year as, depending upon delivery date, launch of a stretch will kill or reduce dramatically sales of the current model for which they are nowhere hear recouping R+D. I suppose they may set out a product plan with a tentative first delivery around 2018 - 2020. Emirates have said they'd replace all their -800s with a stretch which doesn't give much confidence for future used market of existing models!