On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:56:06 GMT, john smith wrote:

An interesting column in today's WSJ predicts that Boeing will take
advantage of the European squabbles over AirBus to design and build a
737 replacement. The theory being that AirBus is so mired in its
political protectionism and the loss of billions of dollars on the A380
and A350 that it will be decades before they will even be able to think
about building a third new aircraft.

Astonishing figures in that article, for example, the 737 outsells the
747 by such a huge margin; that the A320 outsells the 737 and indeed
is the only commercially viable aircraft in the Airbus lineup; that a
new P&W engine will make a 737 replacement profitable may -- the 797,
by golly! It's good to see Boeing getting back on its feet. I have
flown 7*7s since 1964 and have always preferred them to the 'bus.