If Delta Wants It The 797 Concept Is Ready

Many wonder when the 797 will come and what will comprise the 797. Delta Airlines has seen enough suggesting a freezing of the concept leaving only bloggers to imagine what Delta has seen and likes. Long has "Winging IT" gone with a dual aisle elliptical body. Perhaps the elliptical in its design is too much. That would cost Boeing more money than it is willing to fork out on another moon shot.

Delta probably agrees with a very slight oval body not even noticeable by a passerby. The point is a composite body and wings in a dual aisle fashion smaller than the 787 widths. A promise of an engine selection has been having been made by Boeing to either CFM or GE. It is a slight to Airbus and Rolls. The technology will be applied from already tested proven, and in-service advances. Delta doesn't care about Boeing messages sent to the competitor it only cares about how a 797 would make it more money. Delta is not brand-centric in its profit model, only to the extent of maintaining some fleet commonality making the fleet more efficient to maintain or customers depend upon. The 797 would have an opposite effect. Customers will clamor for a new gap filler aircraft and Delta's fleet would eagerly absorb a Boeing product with its other Boeing products already in use.

Therefore, a new class of aircraft from Boeing breaks all commonality rules and cancels the need for an "all" Airbus product in its line-up. In Fact, Delta is a Boeing customer already and a 797 could replace its aging 767's and develop new markets uniquely. Airbus does not have an answer to this for this Boeing proposal. 

Time to market is a critical element. Boeing will bring a 797 to market in under five years. Therefore, no experimenting with oddly shaped bodies.  The 797 may be a template for an all-new composite 737 Family of aircraft by 2030. Boeing would need an all-new 737 that would bring another 10% efficiency to the single-aisle marketplace by the 2030's. The 797 is that stepping stone for meeting a single-aisle aircraft remake.

The whole stopping point for grandiose thinking is hinged upon the engine for the 797 and that is something Boeing has drawn up for customers like Delta. The 797 will stand tall enough for accepting new engine concepts having larger diameters than a 68" Max engine. It will have a taller landing gear designed into its body. Something special is planned to hang under the 797 wing. which give room for future engine developments 50 years going forward. 
Delta Airlines is a smoke signal from for Boeing customers have been assembled for this 797 project.  Boeing is only waiting for the big announcement event at the Airshow calendar event. Farnborough is next. Airbus can only announce a paper idea as counter at this time. Boeing has its paper airplane.