Report: Boeing Begins Early Work on New Plane Design

Boeing (NYSE: BA) is reportedly talking to potential customers and suppliers about a new commercial aircraft design, pushing forward with the long-discussed move even as the 737 MAX grounding and coronavirus pandemic continue to weigh on its business. The aerospace company has had on-and-off discussions for years about replacing its 767 and filling a gap in its portfolio between the 737 and the larger, international-focused 787 Dreamliner. Boeing at one time had been exploring what it called the NMA, short for "new midmarket airplane," but dropped that push after the March 2019 grounding of the MAX because of two fatal crashes.