China Stops Boeing Airliner Deliveries, Report Says
Thirty-six Boeing aircraft are earmarked for delivery to China in 2026. None of the airlines nor the government have officially commented on the issue so far.
The Chinese government has blocked its airlines from taking delivery of Boeing aircraft and U.S.-made aerospace equipment, according to a Bloomberg report.
The decision, which comes after the U.S. imposed high tariffs on goods imported from China as part of President Donald Trump’s global trade policy, shows how exposed Boeing and major U.S. aerospace suppliers are in the escalating conflict.
According to Aviation Week Network’s fleet forecast, 44 Boeing aircraft are due to be delivered to Chinese airlines in 2025. Most of them are 737-8/9s, but Boeing is also planning to hand over four 777Fs and three 787-9s to Chinese carriers this year.
Airlines most affected by the order are Xiamen Airlines (seven 737-8s), Air China (six 737-8s) and China Southern (six 737-8s).
Thirty-six Boeing aircraft are earmarked for delivery to China in 2026. None of the airlines nor the government have officially commented on the issue so far.
The conflict could also have an impact on China’s Comac C919 program. The narrowbody is equipped by CFM International Leap-1C engines and has many U.S.-made components.
Boeing has 130 aircraft yet to be delivered to China and Hong Kong based on its current unfilled orders numbers. The vast majority of them are 737 MAXs, but Cathay Pacific has a significant order in place for 21 777Xs. Okay Airways and Ruili Airlines have a total of 11 787-9s on order.
China has not placed large orders for Boeing aircraft for sometime, which explains why the backlog for Chinese customers is relatively small. But Boeing forecast in its 2024 Current Market Outlook that China will take delivery of 20% of all large commercial aircraft manufactured over the next 20 years.
If the delivery stop is sustained for longer, Airbus is set to benefit. The company is forecast to deliver around 850 aircraft to Chinese operators in the next 10 years. In 2025, 136 are to be handed over to Chinese airlines, and 148 are earmarked for them in 2026. Airbus plans to deliver around 820 aircraft globally this year.
