During the mid-1960s, both Air France and American Airlines had expressed interest in a short-haul twin-engine wide-body aircraft, indicating a market demand for such an aircraft to be produced.
Durante mediados dos anos 60 tanto Air France como American Airlines expresaran o seu interese nun avión de fuselaxe ancha bimotor e de curto alcance, indicando que había unha demanda no mercado para ese tipo de aeronave.