Boeing Is Said to Be Nearing 737 Max Deal With Japan Airlines
- Order for at least 20 planes, people familiar with matter say
- Airbus A321neo previously seen as frontrunner for a JAL order
Boeing’s 737 Max 8.
Photographer: David Ryder/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Boeing Co. is close to sealing an order from Japan Airlines Co. for at least 20 of its 737 Max planes, according to people familiar with the talks, beating out arch-rival Airbus SE and its competing A320neo aircraft family.
After holding discussions with both manufacturers, JAL is leaning toward Boeing, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private. The order will likely be a combination of smaller Max 8 jets along with some of Boeing’s larger Max 10 planes, one of the people said.