Boeing secures China deal for 200 aircraft

Published: 2026-05-17 20:50:07 ET BA

Published on 05/17/2026 at 08:50 pm EDT

Boeing has confirmed that China has committed to purchasing 200 aircraft following a visit to Beijing by Donald Trump, in a deal that could expand significantly with potential orders for a further 750 planes.

According to AFP, the US aerospace group said the trip had achieved its main objective of reopening the Chinese market to Boeing aircraft orders. The initial commitment covers 200 jets, although further orders are expected to follow. The company has, however, declined to specify which models were under discussion.

Boeing indicated that it would continue to address demand in China’s aviation market, while acknowledging the role of the US administration in facilitating the agreement. In its latest 20-year outlook for global commercial aviation, published in June last year, Boeing projected that 44,000 aircraft would be produced worldwide by 2044, replacing around 21,000 existing planes and meeting rising demand. Approximately half of this demand is expected to come from Asia - China, South Asia and Southeast Asia in particular are all key growth markets for Boeing and its main rival, Airbus.

China’s previous major order from Boeing dates to 2017, during Trump’s first presidential term, when 300 aircraft were purchased in a deal valued at $37bn.

US media have also reported that Beijing had been preparing a substantial order including 500 single-aisle 737 Max aircraft and around 100 larger 787 Dreamliner and 777 models.

Beijing suspended all Boeing deliveries in 2019, resuming them gradually from December 2023 with the 787 Dreamliner and from early 2024 with the 737 Max. Deliveries were briefly halted again in mid-2024 over a lithium battery problem affecting several models.