Why The 737-900 Didn't Turn Out To Be The Success Boeing Wanted It To Be

Boeing expected the Boeing 737-900 to extend the appeal of its Next Generation narrowbody family by offering airlines a larger aircraft without abandoning the familiar 737 platform. The jet was the longest member of the family when it entered service with Alaska Airlines in May 2001, but its extra fuselage length did not translate into the passenger capacity or range many airlines needed. Boeing had created a bigger aircraft without giving it a sufficiently bigger commercial advantage.