Airbus eyes 2015 win over Boeing as orders hit 1000

Airbus has not only won about 60 percent of the contests with the MAX, but done especially well at the larger capacity end of the single aisle market, where the A321 NEO has left the corresponding 737-9 MAX struggling to come second.

The Boeing Company rolled out the first of its 737 MAX jetliners on Tuesday in Renton.

While the plane – the first of a more efficient single-aisle family – is important for the aircraft manufacturer, Tuesday’s event was for employees and suppliers only.

The much-needed upgrade to the 737 comes almost a half century since the airplane was first introduced in 1967.

With the second and third 737 MAX 8 flight test airplanes now in final assembly and the fourth (and final) in sub-assembly, the 737 MAX remains on track for first delivery to launch customer Southwest Airlines in the third quarter of 2017. The plane’s features include new engines, more-aerodynamic wings and winglets, and cockpit displays borrowed from the 787.

Boeing said the airplane will use 20 percent less fuel than the first Next-Generation 737s. It is also tailoring the trials, which should last about a year, to mimic how airlines would use the jet.

But Airbus’ (AIR.PA) competing A320neo is outselling the 737 MAX, even as both plane makers face challenges to sell their fuel-efficient jets as oil prices remain far below the levels when both of the new jets were initially offered to customers.

“Today marks another in a long series of milestones that our team has achieved on time, per plan, together”, said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager of 737 MAX Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Boeing has pledged to close a sales gap with the A320neo, saying it is too early to judge the balance of power between the two models and only deliveries will decide which has the upper hand. Boeing’s current tempo for the 737 is 42 jets a month, rising to 52 by 2018.