Qantas CE Alan Joyce says his airline's unmatched safety reputation positions it to negotiate a cut-price deal with Boeing for a new fleet of 737MAX aircraft when the grounded jet returns to the skies. The airline is preparing to make a multibillion-dollar aircraft order this year to replace its fleet of 75 older model 737s, and is weighing up Boeing's offering against Airbus' hugely popular A320neo family of jets. Joyce said Boeing remained a contender, despite the 737MAX now being grounded for almost a year following 2 deadly crashes and its "New Mid-market Aircraft" concept going back to the drawing board. Joyce said: "If you look at it from an opportunity point of view, given the aircraft is going to be very safe, what will Boeing do to get the safest airline in the world to buy the aircraft?" <br/>