The Next Generation models introduced in the 1990s had proven remarkably durable, with orders surpassing seven thousand. What’s more, with the initial investments in design and factory tooling long since paid off, the plane was a cash cow: the profit on each one was $12 million. The persistent issue remained: In the biggest, most important part of the aircraft market, the 737 was no longer the premier product. The Airbus A320 was.
