Boeing, Airbus gird for new duel in small jet market

United confirmed that it's considering jets in the E2 family along with the C Series, Airbus A319neo and Boeing 737 Max 7.

Embraer SA’s first new narrow-body jet is set to fly into commercial service next week to take on Bombardier. But that’s just a prelude to the bigger battle emerging between heavyweights Boeing and Airbus.

At stake: Possible orders from Air France-KLM, United Continental Holdings, and JetBlue Airways. The sales campaigns are a key test for Embraer and Bombardier as they seek to prove the potential of a new generation of 100- to 150-seat narrow-body jets — a market sliver that Airbus and Boeing have largely abandoned for bigger, more profitable models.

The twist is that those contests are poised to become the