China Nears Landmark Order for 500 Boeing Aircraft Amid Rival Airbus Deal

Chinese airlines are reportedly on the verge of finalizing a blockbuster order for 500 Boeing aircraft, according to Reuters. The deal would be the largest purchase of Boeing jets by Chinese carriers in years and could signal a thaw in U.S.–China commercial aviation ties. The news follows a September 2025 visit to China by a delegation of American lawmakers and lawyers who met with senior Chinese officials.

During a press conference on September 23, 2025, U.S. Representative Adam Smith noted, “It has been a while since Boeing airplanes were sold here in China,” adding that the U.S. hopes to resume sales soon. Bloomberg reported in August that China had already been in advanced discussions with Boeing regarding the large-scale order.

Potential Multi-Billion-Dollar Deal

If concluded, the multi-billion-dollar order would represent a major opportunity for Boeing, which has struggled in recent years to regain market share in China. U.S. Ambassador to China David Purdue emphasized that negotiations are “very important to the president, to Boeing, and to China,” underscoring the high stakes involved. Delivery schedules and specific aircraft models remain under discussion, but the agreement is widely seen as part of a broader U.S.–China trade arrangement. Analysts say the deal could help Boeing recover ground lost to Airbus, which has made significant gains in China over the past decade.

The visit marked the first House of Representatives delegation trip to China since 2019, before relations soured during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to aviation sales, lawmakers discussed the need for more robust military dialogue, citing China’s rapidly expanding defense capabilities and the risks of poor communication between the two powers.

Breaking a Long Freeze

If finalized, the new deal would mark China’s first major Boeing order since 2017, ending a long period of inactivity. The last large Boeing order came during President Donald Trump’s state visit to China, when China Aviation Supplies Holding Company signed for 300 aircraft. Since then, the 737 MAX groundings, protracted recertification processes, and geopolitical tensions have hampered Boeing’s sales efforts in China. In 2024, China Development Bank Financial Leasing ordered 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2031.

The “big three” Chinese carriers—Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines—currently have a combined backlog of 567 aircraft, according to ch-aviation data, with only 72 Boeing deliveries pending across all three airlines.

A Parallel 500-Plane Airbus Order

At the same time, Airbus has been steadily gaining market share in China. Earlier this year, Chinese carriers quietly finalized an order for 500 Airbus jets, although an official announcement has yet to be made. According to Bloomberg, the Chinese government and Airbus completed the deal in June 2025 but have held back a public statement to coordinate timing.

Industry sources expect Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines to secure about 100 Airbus aircraft each, with smaller airlines such as Xiamen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines Group taking roughly 35 aircraft apiece. The composition of the order remains undisclosed but reinforces Airbus’s strong presence in China’s booming aviation sector.

Together, the prospective Boeing order and the confirmed Airbus deal highlight China’s pivotal role in shaping the future of the global commercial aircraft market and underscore the fierce competition between the world’s two largest airframe manufacturers.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com, Bloomberg.com