This is my guess as well. I believe Boeing is going to want to "hide" as much of the payment for the Max debacle as possible, and one way they will do that is give steep discounts on aircraft purchases. We have a good number of 787s coming which could be discounted, but I am sure they would love to spread those discounts over a large max 700 order.

As this ties to our scope section, remember, between operating aircraft and used ones coming we currently have :

106-A319s (68 operating, 11 in mod, 27 waiting induction)
61-737/700s (40 operating, 1 in mod, 20 waiting induction)


We need to ensure in the new contract that the floor of the current 167 aircraft is maintained before any formula starts adding even one 70/76 seater. If not, we will see a ten year replacement of aircraft with a NSNB at mainline, but growth of the 70/76 seat fleet at express. Right now they could buy 100 E195-E2s and use them as replacements for the aging 319s and 737/700s over the coming years, but still get credit for enough NSNB aircraft to expand the 70/76 seat fleet to the size of Deltas.