Rolls-Royce 'open-minded' on new Boeing mid-market jet study: executive

Rolls-Royce is “open-minded” on whether it will join Boeing in a fresh attempt at addressing the midsize jet market after pulling out of an earlier effort over timing, a top company official said Wednesday. Boeing is re-examining plans for a mid-market jet designed to carry 220-270 passengers after a crisis over the grounding of its smaller 737 MAX absorbed its attention in the past year, leaving the door open to rival Airbus to sell its A321XLR. The delay gives Rolls-Royce more time to develop its efficient new Ultrafan engine technology, for which it has started building parts for a demonstrator. “We are open-minded ... and will stay open-minded when we know what Boeing plans to do,” Chris Cholerton, president of civil aerospace at the British engineering company, said at the Singapore Airshow. The comments came a year after Rolls-Royce dropped out of the race to power Boeing’s planned mid-market aircraft, saying it did not want to risk more disruption for airline customers by rushing out a product without extensive testing.<br/>