Boeing sees huge potential for a niche mid-market jet

Paris

BOEING Co is exploring a potential market of over 1,000 aircraft in a niche between its single-aisle 737 and wide-body 787, but has not decided whether to invest in a new jetliner, its sales chief says.

Airlines have told the planemaker they are interested in something about 20 per cent bigger than its out-of-production 757 and able to fly further, putting it beyond the reach of the latest A321LR single-aisle offering from rival Airbus, he said on Sunday.

Speaking in an interview ahead of the Paris Airshow, John Wojick, senior vice-president for global sales and marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that airlines were looking for a jetliner able to seat about 240 people with greater comfort, but just as ef…