Boeing’s extensive exposure to the Middle East is no longer just a story about regional demand. Rather, it is a concentrated widebody vulnerability. Analysis indicates that Middle Eastern airlines and lessors happen to account for 14% of Boeing’s overall backlog as opposed to 9% of Airbus’. The problem is magnified by the Boeing 777X, where the manufacturer relies significantly on buyers from the Gulf, all of whom are currently caught up in the geopolitical crisis in the region.