AEROSPACE

Boeing Reportedly Weighs Alliance With Japan, Canada: Rejected in its bid to work with China on a new 100-seat airplane, the Seattle-based plane maker may ally itself with Canada’s Bombardier Inc. and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in building the small commercial jet, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting an unnamed executive. Boeing spokeswoman Liz Verdier would not confirm the specifics of the report, although she said the company is looking into the feasibility of building such a plane. Boeing’s role in such a venture “depends on how and who we go with,” she said. The smallest plane now made by Boeing seats 108 to 132 passengers. In July, China shut out U.S. manufacturers on the project to build such a plane to serve Asia’s booming market, announcing a consortium made up of British Aerospace, Aerospatiale of France, Alenia of Italy and Singapore Technology and Aviation Industries of China.