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American aircraft manufacturer Boeing is reportedly in the early stages of developing a new single-aisle, twin-engine jet to eventually replace its 737 MAX family. The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, met with Rolls-Royce Holdings earlier this year as a possible partner for engine development on the future aircraft. The designs are said to include plans for a redesigned flight deck and are still at an initial stage, with no decision yet made on whether they will proceed to production.
When contacted by Reuters, both Boeing and Rolls-Royce did not provide comments regarding the reports of new aircraft development. Boeing is currently focused on fulfilling nearly 6,000 outstanding orders and remains committed to securing certification for its aircraft types that still require approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Boeing has faced significant challenges over the past decade related to the 737 MAX program. After entering service in 2017, two fatal crashes resulted in 346 deaths and led to worldwide grounding of the model in 2019. Deliveries resumed after regulatory approval was granted in 2020. More recently, an incident involving Alaska Airlines saw a door plug blow out mid-flight due to missing bolts, prompting investigations by both the FAA and U.S. Justice Department. The latter found Boeing non-compliant with expected safety measures.
