A brand-new Boeing 737 MAX jet, originally destined for China’s Xiamen Airlines, has returned to the United States, highlighting the growing impact of the US-China trade conflict on global aviation. The aircraft landed at Boeing Field in Seattle, still bearing the Xiamen Airlines livery, after a 5,000-mile journey with refueling stops in Guam and Hawaii.
The return stems from China’s retaliatory 125% tariff on US goods, following a sharp tariff hike on Chinese imports by the US. The new import taxes make the cost of a $55 million jet potentially unaffordable for Chinese buyers, effectively stalling deliveries. Analysts warn that these trade policies may push airlines to postpone or cancel aircraft deals rather than incur unsustainable costs.
Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center had been holding multiple aircraft awaiting delivery to Chinese clients, a market that represents nearly 20% of projected global aircraft demand over the next two decades. At the end of March, Boeing still had 130 aircraft on order for Chinese buyers, including airlines and leasing companies.
Industry experts are concerned that ongoing tariff volatility could leave future deliveries in limbo. Some international carriers, such as Ryanair, have already hinted at delaying deliveries, hoping for stabilization in trade relations.
With half a trillion dollars in backlogged Boeing orders and 80% of its sales made overseas, company executives stress the importance of keeping global markets accessible amid escalating trade barriers.