Boeing CEO prepared to defend rainmaker 737 as rivalry heats up

Boeing is prepared to defend its rainmaker 737 jetliner as competition heats up at the top and bottom of the lucrative single-aisle market, CEO Dennis Muilenburg said. The threat to the US planemaker was underscored when Delta announced orders last week for Bombardier’s all-new C Series jets and Airbus Group SE’s largest narrow-body jet. The Airbus A321neo has grabbed 85% of orders versus its Boeing counterpart, the 737 Max 9, while the C Series is finally making inroads with its smaller jets. Boeing is weighing its potential response to the “middle of the market” segment once dominated by Boeing’s out-of-production 757, where the largest narrow-body aircraft overlap the smallest twin-aisle models. Among options: stretching the largest 737 Max and outfitting it with upgraded engines and new landing gear to counter the A321neo. “We’re going to continue watching the marketplace, having productive conversations with customers,” Muilenburg said at Boeing’s annual general meeting in Chicago on Monday. “If we need to make an additional move in that space, we’ll be ready.”<br/>