Boeing is moving closer to finalising a major aircraft deal with China involving the sale of up to 500 jets, in what would be the first significant order from the country since 2017, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The report highlights that negotiations are ongoing, with both sides still working through the specifics of the agreement, including aircraft types, quantities, and delivery timelines, one of the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
The potential order, which has been years in the making, remains subject to broader political developments and would likely hinge on a thaw in trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The people citied in the report cautioned that the deal could still fall through if diplomatic efforts falter.
Chinese authorities have reportedly begun surveying domestic airlines to assess demand for Boeing aircraft, in a move reminiscent of a similar pending order with Airbus, which also involves up to 500 aircraft but has not yet been formally announced.
The Boeing transaction is expected to form a central part of a broader trade agreement, potentially providing a political win for both former US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Boeing deliveries to China resumed during June of this year, after flight tracking data showed that one 737 MAX aircraft had arrived at the manufacturer’s aircraft completion and delivery centre near Shanghai.
In April, at least three 737 MAX aircraft were flown back to the US from the completion and delivery centre, after trade tensions between the US and China continued to escalate.
The Zhoushan facility, which is a joint venture with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is where 737 MAX aircraft are fitted with interiors and have airline liveries for Chinese customers sprayed.
Boeing said during its first quarter earnings call that customers in China had indicated that they would not take the delivery of new aircraft from the manufacturer, given the economic uncertainty.