Large aircraft orders from China are not uncommon. The current major order for Airbus is particularly painful for Boeing. For many reasons.
Since the Chinese state airlines order their aircraft together, large orders from the country are not uncommon. So proclaimed regarding Boeing 2017 an order from the People’s Republic over 300 aircraft, Airbus followed suit in 2019 with an equally large order.
That Airbus is now back an order for four airlines from China in total 292 A320 Neo Family Jets has collected is still something special. On the one hand, because it is the first major order from the country since the beginning of the Corona pandemic – and that even while China is still pursuing a very strict course with a zero-Covid strategy.
Airbus can celebrate, Boeing has to wait
On the other hand, this time it is a blow that hits Boeing harder than usual. Because China has now received two large Airbus orders in a row (2019 and 2022), without the American aircraft manufacturer getting a chance in between. It is also a bitter moment for Boeing.
Because the US manufacturer is still waiting for Chinese airlines to finally put the Boeing 737 Max back into service. Green light from the authorities they already have and test flights have already taken place – but no commercial flights yet. If that happens, Boeing may also be able to resume deliveries of the 150 or so jets — most of them Max — for Chinese customers that are already in production. The group needs the money and can only then hope for new orders.
Boeing puts pressure on the US government
Accordingly, Boeing’s comment on the Airbus deal is different. “As a top US exporter with a 50-year relationship with China’s airline industry, it is disappointing that geopolitical differences continue to limit US aircraft exports,” a spokesman told Bloomberg.
“We continue to urge productive dialogue between governments given the mutual economic benefits of a thriving aviation industry,” the spokesman said. “Boeing aircraft sales to China have historically supported tens of thousands of American jobs and we hope orders and deliveries will resume promptly.” After all, cancellations of Boeing orders by Chinese customers are not yet known.
