Boeing says building mid-range jet a matter of ‘when,’ not ‘if’

Boeing gave its strongest hint yet that it will soon develop its first all-new passenger aircraft since the 787 Dreamliner. The planemaker is honing designs for a mid-range plane to whisk travelers from New York to London, Sydney to Shanghai or Dubai to Oslo. Billions of dollars of investment would be required, but the aircraft would fill the gap in its product line between the largest single-aisle 737 and smallest widebody 787 -- a relatively untapped market where Airbus Group SE is starting to extend its reach. Boeing estimates that sales of middle-of-market jets could reach between 4,000 and 5,000 and the company would be poised to capitalize, provided it can keep production costs in check and prices reasonable, said Mike Delaney, general manager of airplane development. He used the term “when,” not “if,” while discussing the prospects for the new aircraft family, which would begin commercial flights next decade. Recent discussions with 36 airline customers have given Delaney confidence that Boeing is on the verge of a breakthrough after years spent seeking a replacement for its out-of-production 757. Mike Sinnett, who heads product development for the company’s commercial planes, has delved into the prices airlines would be willing to pay, and performance they’d expect, for jets that seat between 200 and 270 people with the range to fly about 5,000 nautical miles. <br/>