Boeing 717: Once a sales flop, now the world's hottest used jetliner
Its valuations and lease rates jump amid cheap fuel and Delta's decision to replace small regional jets
Washington
NINE years after production ended for Boeing Co's 717 jetliner, the former sales dud is one of the most sought-after aircraft in the world.
Boeing built just 155 of the 100-seaters, and most are near the age when airlines start thinking about a trade-in. But valuations and lease rates are soaring thanks to a mix of cheap fuel, Boeing's US$1.5 billion bet on ensuring the model stays in service and Delta Air Lines Inc's decision to use the plane as a replacement for its smallest regional jets.
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