Quoting keesje : "Problem for upgrading the 757s would be their OEW but even more their age/hours/cycles and old systems. I have the impression the US operators are really wearing out their 757s ..."/unquote
Boeing engineers keep the original 757 construction blueprints in a drawer somewhere @ Renton (WA) ... they could bring them out again, blow off the dust and give the 757 a new chance with the MAX ... a better strategy than giving the 757 niche away for Airbus to pick up with A321 undisturbed (except for compromised applications of 787 where this makes sense) ? And maybe here's some meat on a bone for IAM, if the 777X is moved out of WA ?
BTW, how do I post a proper "quote" of other postings here on PPRuNe ?