Originally Posted by
Dawgfan6291
Boeings problem isn't the gap between 78J and 777X, Boeings problem is the A321NEO and something that can actually replace the large 767 fleets of the world. This is exactly where they will focus, the issue for them right now is engine technology in the 40-60K thrust ball park are few and far between, and will be till Rolls gets the UltraFan ready and Pratt gets its crap together on the current GTFs.
i 110% agree that lacking an answer to the A321neo, and now to the cs100 and cs300 is Boeing's biggest problem. They are loosing sales from the 737 family which are going Airbus, and the cs100/300 lines are going to make this problem worse in the future. And I think the additional risk for Boeing in the MoM space is that if they do a new narrow twin-aisle plane, Airbus can re-wing the A321neo for a stretch, pushing the plane into the same basic size range, but at a much lower cost and likely better CASM. WHat Boeing needs is a new narrow body carbon fiber-body plane with a slightly wider width than the A320 (add 2-3") that has the base size at about 200 seats with a stretch to 225, and a shrink to 175.
This is not to say that Boeing does not have advantages. If the A380 sales crash, they will have the only ultra-large A/C in the 779, and while I love the A380, I think the economics of the 779 kill it off. Likewise, to the extent that an airline wants a plane of the 789 size, Airbus's anwers ( a larger A359 or the 332/333neo) are less than appetizing.