May 12th, 2026

Boeing Bets Comeback on Trump, China and an Elusive New Plane

China is considering a deal for about 500 of the 737 Max jets, which would give China's airlines badly needed planes and provide a trade win for President Donald Trump. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is expected to join the US delegation to China and has hinted at a major deal, saying Trump's visit would be "a meaningful opportunity for us." Boeing is starting to lay the groundwork for a successor to the 737 Max, with initial design preferences pointing to a single-aisle airliner that's more evolutionary than groundbreaking, and a formal launch expected around the turn of the decade. Bloomberg's Siddharth Philip joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss.