Boeing 737 MAX Resumes Deliveries to China Amid Easing Trade Tensions

SEOUL: According to flight tracking information, a fresh Boeing 737 MAX recently touched down in China, signaling the resumption of deliveries to Chinese clients as trade relations between Beijing and Washington improve.

Boeing had stopped delivering new aircraft to China in April as the world’s two largest economies increased tariffs on one another. However, at the end of May, the company stated that deliveries would resume in June after the tariffs were temporarily reduced for a period of 90 days.

The aircraft, bearing the livery of Xiamen Airlines, arrived at Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center near Shanghai, China’s commercial hub, after departing Seattle on Saturday and making stops in Hawaii and Guam to refuel as it crossed the Pacific Ocean.

According to data from the Flightradar24 tracking app, Boeing initially transported the aircraft to Zhoushan in March before it was sent back to the United States in mid-April, when Chinese airlines ceased accepting new Boeing aircraft.

Boeing, Xiamen Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) have not yet provided a response to requests for comment. China accounts for around 10% of Boeing’s commercial backlog and is a significant and expanding aviation market.

Representatives from China and the United States are scheduled to convene in London to deliberate on a trade agreement.

Previous Impact of Trade Tensions

Boeing repatriated a minimum of three 737 MAX aircraft from Zhoushan to the United States in April. These aircraft were intended to receive final modifications before being delivered to Chinese carriers.

Notably, the first aircraft to be returned was the same one that landed on Monday. Boeing had previously indicated that Chinese customers would not accept new aircraft due to tariffs and that it was considering reselling potentially dozens of aircraft.

Despite its desire to reduce inventory, the planemaker had not yet sent the planes to alternative locations.

Beijing has not publicly commented on the reason for the suspension of Boeing deliveries, but has acknowledged that US-imposed tariffs have had a severe impact on both Chinese airlines and Boeing.

In April, Boeing disclosed that it had planned for 50 aircraft to be delivered to Chinese carriers during the remainder of the year, with 41 already in production or pre-built.