Boeing supplier says new jet may hinge on success of Max return

Boeing’s decision on whether to launch a new, midrange jetliner is likely to hinge on the success of the 737 Max as it returns to service, according to one of the grounded jet’s engine suppliers. How sales of the Boeing narrow-body plane fare against Airbus models will be key to the US planemaker’s new-product strategy, Philippe Petitcolin, CEO of French engine-maker Safran, said Friday. A decision is probably two to three years away, he said. “If Boeing’s market share falls to a third, then it might decide to launch a project in 2022 or 2023,” Petitcolin said on a call after reporting Q3 sales. He added that while the move is possible, it’s “not the most probable.” LEAP engines made by a partnership of Safran and General Electric are the only option on the 737 Max and one of two turbine choices for the its main competitor, the Airbus A320neo family. Before the 737 Max was grounded in March 2019 following two deadly accidents, Airbus had an edge in the market. The gap has now widened, with several hundred Boeing Max cancellations since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 737 Max is expected to win regulatory approval to fly again within weeks. <br/>