Boeing Delivers First 777 Freighter to China Since Trade War

Boeing has delivered the first of two new 777-200LRF freighters to China’s Suparna Airlines, marking the first new-build freighter handed to a Chinese carrier since the onset of the U.S.–China trade war. The aircraft was delivered on September 24, Boeing confirmed Thursday Sep. 25 via its official WeChat account.

Nearly 60 Boeing 777 freighters already operate with six Chinese carriers, but deliveries of new jets had been blocked after Beijing retaliated against U.S. tariffs earlier this year. That restriction has since been eased under a temporary tariff truce between Washington and Beijing, allowing Boeing to resume shipments to China.

The handover comes as Boeing tries to rebuild momentum in the world’s second-largest aviation market. According to Bloomberg, the U.S. planemaker is in talks to sell as many as 500 jets to Chinese airlines—a deal that would represent a major breakthrough after years of stalled orders.

During a rare visit to Beijing this week, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers said they pressed Chinese leaders to commit to more Boeing purchases. U.S. Democratic Representative Adam Smith, part of the delegation, told reporters, “It’s been a while since Boeing airplanes have been sold here in China. We’d like to get that deal done. It’s a good company with a good product. We hope to get back to selling airplanes to China.”

China’s Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong said Thursday that “unilateral U.S. restrictive measures” remain the biggest barrier to normal trade cooperation. The House of Representatives delegation marks the first official visit of its kind in six years and follows a recent call between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping as the two countries look to improve relations beyond the current tariff truce.

Boeing, one of America’s largest exporters, historically sent about a quarter of its planes to China but has not secured a major Chinese order since Trump’s first term in office. The Suparna Airlines delivery is seen as an encouraging signal that business ties between Boeing and Chinese carriers may be thawing.


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