United to buy more than 100 737 MAX's

[Ned]

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that United Airlines will soon finalize a deal with Boeing for more than 100 of its 737 single-aisle jets.

Assuming it's completed, the deal would mark a significant win for Boeing, which last year lagged well behind Airbus in landing orders for narrow body airliners.

Last year, Airbus sold more than 1,000 orders for its A320 family of planes while Boeing sold only about 500. Airbus was very successful with a promised update of the A320, called the NEO, for its "new engine option." The NEO's success prompted Boeing to abandon its successor to the 737 and instead update it.