Two of the major airlines in China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines are planning to resume B737 MAX deliveries in 2023, in what is seen as an improvement over the current trade tensions between US and China.
In the annual report published recently, China Southern said that it planned to take thirty-seven B737 MAX in 2023 followed by 35 in 2024 and 31 in 2025, restoring its previous plan of adding 103 aircraft.
China Southern currently operates thirteen B737-8s and has 44 aircraft on the order.
China Eastern Airlines on the other hand plans to take delivery of two 737 MAX aircraft in 2023, followed by six in 2024. China Eastern Airline’s fleet currently comprises of three inactive B737-8s.
China Southern Airlines became the first Chinese carrier to resume commercial operations of its B737-8 in January 2023, nearly four years after the type was grounded. China Eastern has not resumed the services of its MAX fleet as of now.