Am 23. Mai 2006 wurden die letzten beiden fabrikneuen Boeing 717 ausgeliefert.

"LONG BEACH, Calif. , Feb. 08, 2006 -- The final Boeing 717 began production this week on the moving assembly line in Long Beach, Calif. This milestone marks the final phase of assembly before the airplane delivers to airline customer AirTran Airways in May. The airplane is the 156th 717 produced by Boeing. The 717 program helped shape Boeing business practices through its supplier partnerships and applying principles of lean manufacturing. "We challenged the traditional way of thinking and operating to create a great airplane at a reasonable cost," said Pat McKenna, vice president and general manager of the 717 program. "From its concept to production, this airplane has been a team effort that benefits the world's airlines and passengers." Developed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95 and renamed the 717 after the merger with Boeing in 1997, the 100-seat airplane will provide excellent economics, performance and reliability to the world's airlines for years to come.

The 717 model is the last commercial airplane produced in the Southern California factory. More than 15,000 airplanes have been produced in Long Beach since the plant opened in 1941.

Courtesy: Boeing

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 23, 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today delivered its final two 717 airplanes to Midwest Airlines and AirTran Airways in a ceremony before thousands of employees, retirees and dignitaries in Long Beach, Calif. The deliveries conclude commercial airplane production in Southern California that began in the 1920s with the Douglas Aircraft Co. The 717 program, which produced 156 airplanes, pioneered breakthrough business and manufacturing processes for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Our production system is an industry benchmark because of the lean manufacturing and employee involvement practices we pioneered on the 717 in Long Beach," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally. "The 717 has forever redefined how we build airplanes. We're extremely proud of the airplane, our employees and our many supplier partners on the program." The program was launched by an order from AirTran Airways in 1995, and the airplane quickly became renowned by customers for its excellent economics, performance and reliability. Based on the Douglas DC-9 and launched as the McDonnell Douglas MD-95, the 100-seater was renamed the Boeing 717 after McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged in 1997. Douglas opened the Long Beach factory in 1941 as part of President Roosevelt's Arsenal of Democracy - a request to the nation's industries to halt civilian production and assist in making wartime equipment. The facility produced almost 10,000 airplanes for World War II before transitioning to commercial airplane production after the war. Douglas merged with the McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1967, forming the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. "Truly, it is our people who have acted with tremendous pride and have achieved all of these great accomplishments," said Pat McKenna, vice president and general manager of the 717 program. "They have done this not only on the 717 program but throughout the Douglas history."

More than 15,000 airplanes have been produced in the Long Beach factory.Courtesy: Boeing

"Wir glauben, daß der 100-Sitzer MD-95 besonders auch auf die Anforderungen europäischer Fluggesellschaften zugeschnitten ist." John Wolf, Vice-President, Douglas Aircraft Company

"Die Obergrenze des Leistungspotentials der Fokker 100 liegt am unteren Ende der Skala unserer MD-95." John Wolf, Vice-President, Douglas Aircraft Company

"Der Markt für die MD-95 ist zu einem Großteil Ersatzmarkt für ältere Muster (DC-9)." John Wolf, Vice-President, Douglas Aircraft Company

"Korean Air haben ihr Interesse (an der MD-95) deutlich bekundet." John Wolf, Vice-President, Douglas Aircraft Company

"Wir haben beim SAS-Deal ab einem gewissen Zeitpunkt nicht mehr mitgeboten, da uns die Auftragsquantität in Relation zum geforderten Preisnachlaß nicht mehr ausreichend erschien." Rolf Sellge, MD-95-Programm-Chef

"Die Kunden, und da blicke ich vor allem nach Europa, müssen die MD-95 "erleben" - dann kommt der Markterfolg von ganz alleine." Rolf Sellge, MD-95-Programm-Chef

Weitere Zitate folgen...

In gewohnter Eleganz präsentieren sich hier die aerodynamisch schnittigen Leitwerke zweier Boeing 717-200 der AirTran!

Ursprünglich sollten inklusive Umwandlung von Optionen 50 (!) Boeing 717 bei Midwest Airlines im Einsatz stehen. Das über Jahre hinweg sehr erfolgreiche Unternehmen verließ aber ihre klare Produktstrategie und existiert mittlerweile nicht mehr.

Der Aufstieg von AirTran war mehrheitlich der Boeing 717 zu verdanken. AirTran konnten mit diesem modernen Flugzeugtyp nicht nur ihre Boeing 737-200 und Douglas DC-9 ersetzen, sondern ihr Streckennetz erheblich ausbauen.