Boeing Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg announced that the company will fund its first new "clean sheet" aircraft program by 2030.
Boeing Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg stated that the company will be prepared to fund its first "clean sheet" plane program in two decades by 2030. This strategic move follows years of heavy investment in maturing the 737 MAX and 777X programs. Ortberg emphasized that the company must first ensure the current aircraft lineup is fully mature before committing resources to a new airframe. The upcoming jet is expected to replace the 737 MAX series, which remains Boeing's best-selling aircraft. While the new plane, tentatively named the 797, is not a direct equivalent to previous designs, it is expected to be a scalable single-aisle family. By finalizing the certification of current models, the company will free up the cash and assets necessary to develop the next major platform. This transition aims to improve manufacturing efficiency and offer better fleet commonality for operators. Despite competition from Airbus, the move signals a significant step forward in Boeing's long-term recovery and innovation.