Boeing to End 757 Jetliner Production Web tools Bookmark Forums Print this Email this The Associated Press SEATTLE oeing Co. will shut down its 757 passenger jet production line in late 2004, after building more than 1,000 of the mid-sized jetliners over the past two decades, the company said Thursday. The announcement came only hours after Continental Airlines said it was seeking to convert six orders for the jet to less-expensive 737-800 jetliners. "This decision reflects the market reality for the 757 as well as the growth in range and seating capacity of our market-leading next-generation 737 family," said Alan Mulally, Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief executive. "Over the long term, the increased capabilities of our newest 737s and the exciting potential of the 7E7 will fulfill the market served by the 757." The single-aisle 757, which comes in two models, was delivered in late 1982 to launch customer Eastern Airlines. It is built in the Seattle suburb of Renton. Analysts have been predicting the demise of the 757, as Boeing has collected few orders for the once popular jet in the past two years. There have been only five new orders for 757s in the last 21 months, and the backlog of 757s remaining to be built has shrunk to 18. Continental has been in negotiations with Boeing for months over delivery terms for the 11 757s it had ordered. Continental CEO Gordon Bethune said Thursday that the company had agreed, in principle, to convert six of those orders to 737-800s. Roger EWROPS