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Boeing ( BA ), Airbus execs say no new narrowbody jets anytime

soon

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Boeing ( BA ) exec says priority is projects awaiting

certification

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Airbus exec says any new plane needs to be 25-30% more

efficient

(Updates with quotes, context)

By Tim Hepher

PRAGUE, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Executives from Boeing ( BA )

and Airbus dampened speculation of imminent decisions

to replace their best-selling narrowbody models, telling a major

audience of investors that it would take time to achieve the

required jump in performance.

The Wall Street Journal reported last Monday that Boeing ( BA ) was

in the early stages of developing a 737 successor. But marketing

chief Darren Hulst told the International Society of Transport

Aircraft Trading that a launch is "some way off" while a senior

Airbus executive said it would "take a bit of time" to achieve

the efficiency gains needed to attract the market.

The executives were speaking in separate responses to

questions on stage during an ISTAT event in Prague on Monday.

The world's dominant planemakers have faced record demand

for narrowbody models like the 737 and its European competitor,

the A320 family. Both were developed decades ago but were

refreshed with new engines in the middle of last decade.

BOEING ( BA ) 'NOT CLOSE TO LAUNCHING' NEW PLANE

The question of when they will launch the next phase of

their epic rivalry by introducing an all-new design is one of

the main dilemmas facing the aerospace industry, though most

analysts agree a launch is unlikely before later this decade.

Earlier this year, Boeing ( BA ) CEO Kelly Ortberg met

Rolls-Royce to discuss a new engine, according to the WSJ

report.

"We are never not looking at new technology but we are

also not close to launching a new airplane," Hulst, Boeing's ( BA )

vice president for commercial marketing, told the ISTAT

conference.

An aircraft launch is the stage at which a manufacturer

begins development of a specific product and seeks new buyers.

In a note to staff last week, Boeing ( BA ) CEO Kelly Ortberg

reiterated any new plane would depend on the market, technology

and the company itself being ready, FlightGlobal reported.

Boeing ( BA ) is saddled with some $50 billion of debt

following a safety crisis involving its best-selling 737 MAX

model.

It meanwhile has four projects awaiting certification:

two variants of the MAX and the larger 777-9 passenger jet as

well as its sister freight model, collectively known as the

777X.

Bloomberg reported last week that the 777X faced a new

delay in certification to 2027, bringing cumulative delays to

seven years.

Hulst said bringing completing pending projects was the

main priority before a new model, but did not comment on 777X

timing.

AIRBUS SAYS EFFICIENCY GOAL WILL TAKE TIME

Airbus, which is outselling Boeing ( BA ), particularly with

the larger versions of the A320 family, has expressed interest

in radical new engine technology.

Airbus Head of Trading and Asset Management Francois

Collet told ISTAT any new plane would need to deliver a 25 to

30% jump in efficiency, something that would take "a little bit

of time".

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)