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Boeing Reportedly Eyeing New Aircraft to Succeed 737 Max Amid Ongoing Scrutiny
Boeing is reportedly initiating the development of a new single-aisle airplane, a move that could eventually see it replace the 737 Max, an aircraft model that has faced significant safety and regulatory challenges.
Sources familiar with the matter have indicated that Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg held discussions with officials at Rolls-Royce Holdings in the United Kingdom earlier this year, focusing on a potential new engine for the proposed aircraft. Additionally, the aerospace giant has appointed a new senior product chief for its commercial plane division, an individual previously involved in developing new aircraft types, to lead this critical area.
The company is said to be in the early stages of designing the flight deck for this new narrow-body aircraft, with overall plans still taking shape.
A Boeing spokesperson, in a statement, affirmed the company’s focus on its “recovery plan,” including delivering on its substantial backlog of nearly 6,000 commercial airplanes and certifying new models such as the 737-7, 737-10, and 777-9. The spokesperson added, “At the same time, as we have done over the decades, our team evaluates the market, advances key technologies, and improves our financial performance, so that we will be ready when the time is right to move forward with a new product.”
The reported development comes as Boeing continues to navigate the aftermath of significant issues with its 737 Max fleet. The fuel-efficient narrow-body jet experienced a global grounding for nearly 20 months, beginning in March 2019, following two fatal crashes. In October 2018, Lion Air Flight 610 tragically plunged into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board, and in March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all 157 passengers and crew.
While regulatory approvals allowed the aircraft to return to service in late 2020, Boeing’s struggles with the 737 Max have continued. Most recently, a door-plug panel detached mid-flight from an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 in January 2024.
This incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement a production cap on the 737 Max and temporarily suspend Boeing’s authority to issue its own airworthiness certificates. Boeing is currently limited to producing 38 737 Max aircraft per month, a cap it is working to raise.
In a recent decision, the FAA announced it would allow Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates, though in a limited capacity, for certain 737 Max and 787 jets. This delegation, which confirms a plane is safe to fly, had been restricted multiple times since 2019 due to production quality concerns and safety incidents. The limited restoration of this authority is scheduled to begin on September 29, 2025.
The FAA underscored its commitment to safety, stating, “Safety drives everything we do, and the FAA will only allow this step forward because we are confident it can be done safely.” The agency noted that this decision followed a comprehensive review of Boeing’s production quality, allowing FAA inspectors to focus additional surveillance on the production process while maintaining direct and rigorous oversight.