Boeing (BOE, Washington National) wants to launch a successor to the B737 MAX once its finances are stabilised, which CEO Kelly Ortberg expects will happen around the end of the decade. Speaking to the Financial Times, Ortberg added that the manufacturer wants to make sure all MAX variants and the B777X are fully certified before work begins on a new narrowbody programme.

Ortberg added that Boeing wants to focus on own readiness for the new aircraft, instead of comparing itself to competitors in a race. "This is a long play," he said, "so whether they start one year or we start one year, I don’t think it’s as important as making sure that we’ve got the right aeroplane for the customer."

Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow, multiple executives express caution about a new programme at Boeing before certification is completed for all existing variants in production. "I'm not ​keen to see a new narrowbody in a 2030 time⁠frame," BOC Aviation CCO Paul Kent was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Ryanair Holdings CEO Michael O'Leary echoed these concerns as he warned against too strong a focus on new technology during the LCC's latest earnings call. "Until somebody gets Star Trek travel, and you start beaming people around the world instead of flying them, I think we're dealing with B737 MAX and A320neos for the next 10 or 15 years," he said.

Both Boeing and Airbus have been facing delivery delays across production lines, impacted by parts and workforce shortages, as well as multiple other issues. Earlier, Airbus announced plans to launch a conceptual programme, initially known as eAction, as a successor to its A320neo family in 2030.