CRYSTAL CITY, VIRGINIA, July 21 (DC Times Online) — Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says the company has started early work on a possible new airplane design, but it is not ready to launch a formal program.
Instead, Boeing is spending what Ortberg called “time and money” on design studies, technical preparation and financial repair while it works through a long line of aircraft orders already on the books.
That matters for airlines, because Boeing is not moving a new plane into production yet. The company is still in the planning stage, while its current jets and defense programs remain the main focus.
What Boeing is doing now
Ortberg said Boeing does not have a firm configuration for the next airplane and is still “evaluating trade studies,” an industry term for comparing design options before choosing one final plan.
He said Boeing wants to improve its finances, develop the technology it needs and deliver aircraft that are already behind schedule before it launches another jet.
“Orders are not our challenge,” Ortberg said. “Our challenge is getting these orders delivered.”
That means Boeing’s near-term work is centered on its current lineup. Ortberg has said the company is focused on getting 737 MAX variants through certification, bringing the 777-9 into service and continuing research for a future airplane.
Boeing also said in an investor relations release that first delivery of the 777X is now expected in 2026 and that it plans to finish building and delivering the remaining 767 Freighters in 2027.
Why the backlog matters
A backlog is the list of aircraft customers have ordered but the manufacturer has not yet delivered. For airlines, a large backlog can mean waiting years for new jets, which affects fleet planning, route growth and replacement of older aircraft.
For Boeing, the backlog is a reminder that the company still has to prove it can turn orders into deliveries on time. Ortberg said Boeing’s financial readiness for a new aircraft will take “another couple years,” and that airline customers want the company to improve production reliability first.
That is one reason Boeing is not rushing into a clean-sheet airplane, meaning a completely new design rather than a major update to an existing model. A new jet requires heavy spending on engineering, testing, certification and supply-chain work.
Ortberg said Boeing is already investing in those early steps, but it is not ready to commit to a final configuration or a published schedule.
What happens next
Boeing has not published a schedule for the next commercial airplane. Ortberg said the company has already been through a series of design reviews, but it still needs three things to line up before moving ahead: market readiness, technology readiness and financial readiness.
The company is also juggling other major aircraft programs. Ortberg said Boeing is increasing spending and adding engineering and production staff for the next-generation Air Force One program, which Boeing expects to deliver in 2028.
For now, the message from Boeing is simple: the next airplane is still a future project. The immediate job is to stabilize production, clear delivery delays and restore enough financial and technical footing to make the next jet possible.
