Rather, will COMAC knock on Embraer's door? I see a major tech access opportunity for China; Embraer has some serious engineering talent. China has previously shown -over and over- a determination to buy foreign technology. The same philosophy as Russia: Let someone else invest in the costly research then either buy or steal the work.
I'm sad because it seems to me yet another Boeing misguided decision. It's like Boeing management still can't get it right. I'm referring to the possibility of a government bailout which was originally floated. That deal would have given Boeing enough financial wiggle room to complete the Embraer deal. But, I believe (but can't verify) Boeing rejected this due to pressure surrounding share dilution and stock holder preservation.
Boeing needs to bury the MAX debacle and all its associated baggage. I'll go out on a limb and suggest that, yes, the B797 is a way for Boeing to do that.
No doubt the MAX will be returned to service and be a worthy iteration of an already great plane. But it will always carry the stigma of the MCAS debacle.
I wonder if it's time to put the 737 to bed? There's certainly no shame for greatest selling plane of all time, and, after over two decades of 'best seller' it's overdue for retirement.
If I was Boeing I would continue to produce and deliver the MAX to customers willing to take it but I also start a retirement program, which could free-up resources to either continue with the NMA (bad choice IMO) or a new single aisle design (smarter choice, in my unenlightened opinion).
