After the merger with McDonnell Douglas, Boeing renamed the MD-95 and introduced it into the short-range jetliner market as the 717-200 in early 1998. The 717, which entered commercial service in October 1999, was designed specifically for high-frequency routes. The highly efficient 717 concluded its 156-airplane production run in May 2006. The 717 program pioneered breakthrough business and manufacturing processes for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.