A next generation narrowbody that offers significant improvements in operational efficiency over current designs but has “a common type rating” with the Boeing 737 would be ideal for Southwest Airlines, an executive at the airline tells ATI.

Asked to discuss Southwest’s interest in narrowbody replacement, the carrier’s senior director of engineering and maintenance programs Dale Stolzer said that, if it is not possible to achieve the same type rating as the 737, than “something that would have the lowest amount of additional training time required” would be the next most attractive option “in order to gain operational flexibility with any pilot flying for Southwest”.

It would cost “several hundred million dollars” for 737 operator Southwest

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