AEROSPACE

Saudia’s Decision Expected on U.S. Jets: Saudi Arabia’s national carrier has set May 1 as a target date for deciding which planes to buy from from McDonnell Douglas Corp. and Boeing Co. in a deal worth more than $6 billion, industry sources said. Representatives of the two U.S. aircraft giants have been in Jeddah for the past two weeks, separately discussing with the government its requirements, delivery schedules, financing and related matters. Saudi Arabia appears interested in the wide-body MD-11, which is made in Long Beach, while Boeing is offering 767s and 777s. The two firms are also in the running in the shorter-range class with Boeing’s 737 and McDonnell Douglas’ twin-engine MD-90.