In a message dated 7/22/2003 7:10:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time, dks28@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: << It is hard to justify producing an entire airframe--even if it is just a modification to an existing model--based on the request of one customer, since it is unlikely that Boeing (or Airbus for that matter) could = recoup design costs from that one order. Yes, it is possible that others would = buy the plane, but it makes much more sense to have interest from several customers before beginning design, especially because of the volatility = of the airline business. The 747 was built on an order from PanAm. I guess that one recouped its costs. I am not talking just about one airline. Boeing knows AirTran would prefer a bigger, longer-range 717, over the 737s, because of commonality. They also know QF loves the 717 in the Impulse/Qantas Link ops, and would buy a bigger one, it the economics were still there. If you add into that LH/STAR, and the fact that it would be a stretch of an existing airframe, one that has already been stretched to as many as 172 PAX, it makes a much more attractive airplane An analogy: Hewlett-Packard buys thousands of Ford Taurus' each year for = its internal fleet (primarily for use by salesmen and support personnel). = Let's say that HP really wants a Taurus with a larger trunk. They can go to = Ford and say "hey, how about a Taurus with a larger trunk?" Ford might say "yeah, that's a nice idea," but is unlikely to build the car _only_ on = the strength of HP's interest. The calculus changes when Ford gets a lot of requests for a Taurus with a larger trunk. >>