In the quiet corridors of its design labs, far from the glare of public scrutiny, the American aviation giant Boeing has reportedly begun the monumental task of charting its future—a future that looks beyond its most infamous and troubled creation, the 737 Max.
According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, the company has started early-stage work on a next-generation single-aisle aircraft, a secret and pivotal project to eventually replace the plane that has become synonymous with crisis.
The long and troubled shadow of the max
The move comes as the long and troubled shadow of the 737 Max continues to haunt the company.
The aircraft, which first entered service in 2017, was grounded worldwide in 2019 after two catastrophic crashes that killed 346 people, a tragedy that led to crippling financial losses, a criminal probe by the US Department of Justice, and a shattering of public trust.
Even after the plane returned to the skies, concerns over its safety were violently reignited in 2024 when a panel flew off an Alaska Airlines jet in mid-air, a terrifying incident that marked Boeing’s most serious crisis since the initial grounding.
The first glimmers of a secret successor
Against this backdrop of deep and persistent safety concerns, the first glimmers of a new path forward are emerging.
The new narrowbody aircraft is in its earliest stages of development, a phase that includes internal design efforts and exploratory talks with engine makers, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter.
The report reveals that CEO Kelly Ortberg met with executives from the engine maker Rolls-Royce earlier this year to discuss a new engine for the aircraft.
In another sign of the project’s seriousness, the company has also appointed a new senior product leader within its commercial aircraft division, a figure whose previous role was specifically focused on developing a new type of aircraft.
A calculated silence in Seattle
For now, the project remains shrouded in a calculated silence. CEO Kelly Ortberg has made no public announcements about a 737 successor.
In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, the company maintained that it remains focused on its immediate recovery plan, a daunting task that includes clearing a backlog of roughly 6,000 commercial aircraft and getting certifications for previously announced models.
This public posture is a strategic necessity. Admitting too loudly that you are designing a replacement for your flagship product could be devastating for the sales of the current 737 Max, a plane that Boeing is still desperately trying to sell to the world’s airlines.
The news of a secret successor comes as the company is trying to close major new deals, including a potential landmark sale to China that would mark its first major entry into the country in years, and another massive order from Uzbekistan Airways valued at over 8 billion dollars.
It is a delicate and high-stakes balancing act: trying to restore faith in the present, while secretly building the foundation for a very different future.
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