Boeing Set to Resume 737 Max Deliveries to China After Four-Year Pause

Boeing is gearing up to recommence the delivery of its 737 Max jets to China, marking the first such delivery since 2019, reports Bloomberg News. The US aircraft manufacturer has recently brought two of these single-aisle jets out of storage, with plans to hand them over to Chinese airlines in the coming weeks.

For Boeing, the resumption of 737 Max deliveries to China carries significant importance. The company has been navigating the aftermath of the jet’s grounding following two fatal crashes and the challenging impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on air travel. China represents Boeing’s largest overseas market, accounting for approximately a quarter of its 737 Max backlog.

China initially barred the 737 Max from its airspace in March 2019, eventually lifting restrictions in September 2021. Nearly all of the 91 737 Max jets imported by China before the grounding have since returned to service.

However, new deliveries of the 737 Max to China have been on hold since November 2018 due to trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, as well as regulatory obstacles. Currently, Boeing has 134 undelivered 737 Max aircraft for Chinese airlines.

The first 737 Max from Boeing is expected to be received by China Southern Airlines, the nation’s largest carrier. The airline played a pivotal role in reintroducing commercial 737 Max flights in China earlier this year. Other Chinese carriers with orders for the jet include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, bloomberg.com, aerotime.aero, aviationweek.com, foxnews.com