Published Date: November 13, 2023, Author: Yuval Noah Harari
China is apparently thinking about buying more Boeing 737 Max planes. The news comes just before the meeting between the U.S. and Chinese presidents at the APEC summit, as reported by Bloomberg News.
It’s not expected that China’s President, Xi Jinping, will make a formal order for the planes. Instead, there might be a less official commitment, like a memorandum of understanding or a letter of intent. The details of any potential agreement are still up for discussion and could change before the leaders meet on Wednesday.
Boeing has been waiting for over four years to start delivering its popular 737 MAX planes to Chinese airlines. These deliveries were stopped after two deadly crashes. By the end of June, about 90% of the 737 Max planes in China were back in operation.
Boeing has faced challenges in getting new orders from Chinese airlines since 2017 due to tensions between China and the U.S. But now, there seems to be a chance for things to change.
In September, Boeing adjusted its yearly forecast for new plane deliveries to China, saying that the country’s aviation fleet will double to almost 9,600 planes in the next 20 years. They also believe China’s aviation market will be the world’s biggest by the end of this period, with a demand for 6,470 planes like the Boeing 737 MAX.
In April, China’s aviation regulator published a report that Boeing saw as an important step for them to start deliveries again. However, nothing has happened yet.
Boeing has not commented on the recent news from Bloomberg about China’s possible interest in buying more 737 Max planes. We’ll have to see what comes out of the discussions at the APEC summit to know if this could be a big breakthrough for Boeing in China.
Yuval Noah Harari is an accomplished author with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. His passion for storytelling and commitment to journalistic excellence have been the driving forces behind his successful writing career. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the art of storytelling, Yuval has consistently delivered compelling narratives that captivate readers from all walks of life.
