Boeing's Unlikely Tailwind Amidst Airbus Woes
A Curious Reversal of Fortunes
Isn't it funny how the tables turn? Just a few years ago, Boeing was the naughty schoolboy of the aerospace world, stuck in the corner over its 737 MAX troubles. Meanwhile, Airbus was parading around the playground, looking rather smug. Now, it seems Airbus has an engine problem, a rather significant one, and it’s Boeing that might just be getting a lucky break.
To me, this is less about grand strategy and more about a simple truth. Airlines need new planes like we need a good cup of tea in the morning, it is non-negotiable. When Airbus has to tell them their shiny new A320neos are delayed because Pratt & Whitney can’t build the engines fast enough, what do you suppose they do? They don't just sit around and wait. They pick up the phone to the only other shop in town, which happens to be in Seattle. Suddenly, the once-maligned 737 MAX looks like a rather attractive, and more importantly, available alternative.