The Boeing 767X was a cross between the 747 and the 767. It had two decks and carried 300 passengers, with the iconic hump moved to the rear of the fuselage. It was the perfect compromise that never flew. But if it had been built by Boeing, would it have been successful? Let's explore this alternative world.

What was the Boeing 767X?

Boeing has left some pretty crazy designs on the table:

But none has been as strange or wacky as the Boeing 767X, or called with fondness, the Boeing 767 Hunchback.

The 1980s design had a very distinct feature of having a second level at the back of the plane, which was actually a 757 second 'glued' onto the top of the 767 widebody fuselage. The concept was born from the desire to have a larger capacity aircraft without having to redesign the fuselage. Thus the team of Boeing engineers would prod, poke and stretch the frame to its limit.

This version of the 767X would be a quick and easy capacity extension to the aircraft line without having to develop an entirely new production line. It would have slotted in the 767 family as the biggest variant.

767X
Photo: Boeing

Looking at the specifications, it would have carried around 300-340 passengers to a range of 3,000-5,000 nautical miles, based on a heavier version of the 767-300. This would have made it a contender for the upcoming Boeing 797 positioning in the middle of the market, although its range at the time would have left a little to be desired.

Why was it never built?

Well, for one thing, Boeing was not sure if it could even fly. With a heavier aft section than the front, it would have required far more power to take off. Boeing didn't exactly have the most powerful engines compared to today, and this version of the 767 would have had all the disadvantages of a trijet without the extra power boost.

Additionally, we don't know how passengers would have gotten between the levels, and in case of an emergency, how they would evacuate. In the end, shelved the design after deciding the engineering was unfeasible.

The design of a larger Boeing 767 would eventually evolve into what we know as the 777 today, with engineers deciding to just redesign a larger fuselage from the ground up.

A United Airlines Boeing 777-300ER taxiing to the runway.
Photo: Croatorum | Shutterstock

Indeed, Boeing's next two designs proved to bring exactly what airlines were looking for in the 767X. The 777 family originally carried 312 to 388 passengers and did so with two huge yet power-efficient engines. Come the early 2000s, the carrier was looking to replace the 767 family altogether, launching the 787 Dreamliner, which created a new segment for point-to-point travel without compromising too much on capacity.

Together, the 787 and 777 filled any market that the 767X was looking at just at the times when airlines needed it. However, it doesn't hurt to see who may have been customers for the plane.

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Who would have flown it?

It would have been picked up by heavy 767-based fleets, such as Delta Air Lines and United, who needed more capacity without compromising on what they loved about the 767. Because it would have been the same type rating as the normal 767, pilots would have been able to fly the aircraft without having to retrain or be additionally qualified. Additionally, Boeing had high hopes that a 767X variant would replace the 767 and the 747 (then 15 years old).

Boeing did go on to release higher capacity and range versions of the 767, such as the 767-400ER, but these also saw limited success in the market. This meant the 767X might have met the same fate, although their releases were far apart.

We would have seen other carriers across the world buy the aircraft too, but with rising fuel costs and a declining market for the 767, it is likely the design would not have been very successful. In the end, because the design was so 'ugly' and Boeing needed a few more years to perfect the concept, airlines moved on to the next big thing.

What do you think? Would you fly on the 767X? Let us know in the comment section.

  • 787-8 Dreamliner
    Boeing
    Stock Code:
    BA
    Date Founded:
    1916-07-15
    CEO:
    Dave Calhoun
    Headquarters Location:
    Chicago, USA
    Key Product Lines:
    Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Boeing 787
    Business Type:
    Planemaker