Boeing to Resume China Deliveries, Fixes Production Delays

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed the company will resume aircraft deliveries to China starting in June 2025. Speaking at the Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on May 29, Ortberg said Chinese airlines have signaled their readiness to accept new aircraft, easing concerns about long-term disruption in one of Boeing’s key markets. Deliveries were paused after China imposed a 125% tariff on U.S.-made goods in April, prompting some newly built jets to be returned to the U.S. for remarketing. Boeing currently has 126 aircraft on order for 11 Chinese airlines and two lessors, according to ch-aviation data.

Ortberg also addressed Boeing’s ongoing production challenges, saying the company is resolving issues across its 737, 787, and 777 programs. Boeing aims to reach the FAA-imposed ceiling of 38 monthly 737 MAX units and increase to 42 pending regulatory approval. He noted that FAA collaboration has been ongoing to meet all criteria for the higher rate. Certification for the 737-7 and 737-10 models is expected by the end of 2025, with final work underway on the inlet anti-icing system.

For the 787 Dreamliner, FAA recently approved increasing monthly output from five to seven units. Ortberg said Boeing is targeting ten per month but would need additional investment in facilities to exceed that level.

On the Boeing 777X, Ortberg confirmed four aircraft are in flight testing, with no major technical issues reported. Boeing hopes to complete certification flight tests by year-end. He emphasized the company’s strong backlog and the need to scale production to meet global demand.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com