Originally Posted by
Larry in TN
Boeing started out planning a clean-sheet design to replace the 737 in 2006. The airlines (particularly AAL) wanted a re-engined 737 so that they could have the more efficient design sooner, at lower cost, and as a common fleet with their existing 737s. It was AAL's 2011 order that forced Boeing to drop the new design in favor of the MAX.
It's all there, with references, in the wiki article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737_MAX#Background
If the airlines wanted a clean-sheet design, Boeing was ready to built it.
And my point is, yes the airlines wanted a 737 with new engines, but Boeing still could have said, "nah, this fleet is done, we're going to design something that isn't such a POS and will fit your needs better, and be even more efficient. If you want to bail to Airbus that's fine, but your competitors will be flying our new narrowbody with better margins before you ever get a delivery slot on your Airbus order. Your move"
Boeing failed to remember that they hold/held 50% of the duopoly and instead caved to their customers.
The 737 MAX is a $20+ billion dollar corporate blunder. The customer doesn't always know what they want, sometimes you need to tell them.