Boeing Resumes 737 MAX Deliveries to China Amid Regulatory Overhaul

Boeing has resumed deliveries of its 737 MAX planes to China after regulatory delays. The company noted deliveries had been stalled due to a review of the cockpit voice recorder batteries. This resumption is crucial for Boeing as it navigates safety challenges and geopolitical tensions.

Boeing announced on Tuesday that it has restarted deliveries of its top-selling 737 MAX airplanes to China, overcoming a prolonged halt caused by regulatory issues. According to a Reuters report on May 22, Boeing's deliveries were stalled as Chinese regulators reviewed batteries used in the cockpit voice recorder.

The resumption marks a significant milestone for the U.S. aerospace giant, which had previously cautioned investors about delays. The company is also grappling with ongoing safety and quality concerns. Since 2019, Boeing's delivery schedule to China has been erratic, following two deadly MAX 8 accidents and escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing on various fronts, including technology and national security.

On July 9, Boeing confirmed the delivery of two 777 freighters to Air China, corroborating earlier Reuters reports. However, Chinese airlines had not yet commenced receiving single-aisle MAX planes. Reuters had indicated in June that 737 MAX deliveries were poised to restart as soon as July.

China halted most Boeing plane orders and deliveries in 2019 after the global grounding of the 737 MAX. The widebody aircraft deliveries resumed in December, and narrow-body MAX jets followed in January.

In a year-end 2023 filing, Boeing disclosed having around 140 737 MAX 8 planes in stock, with 85 destined for Chinese customers. Between early 2024 and April 30, Boeing delivered 22 airplanes to China. The company projects that Chinese airlines will need 8,830 new commercial planes by 2043.

(With inputs from agencies.)