Because China is « condemned » to use Boeing planes (despite Trump)
Beijing began to bring some 737 Max back to the USA Also for the next few years
China’s decision to block the delivery of the new planes of the US Boeing and to return some – as a response to the commercial war unleashed by the American president Donald Trump – risks having negative consequences Also for the same Asian giant in the short and medium term. Not only because there are hundreds of Boeing used by the vectors and others owned by the leasing companies of the People’s Republic. But also because The immediate alternative-the European Airbus-has the production lines clogged for the next 8-10 years. While the « local » solution – Comac – is behind and depends heavily on the components « made in the USA », starting from the engines.
The « misunderstanding »
This is the reasoning that Boeing’s manager, Washington officials and analysts have transmitted in the last few days to the Beijing authorities, according to what the Courier from two European diplomatic sources aware of the discussions. According to them, the « disqualification » of Chinese aviation from Boeing (and by the US aerospace ecosystem in general) He risks transforming himself into a trap for the Asian themselves. While experts say they are worried because commercial tensions could also lead to a worsening of Chinese transparency in the case of any accidents of American aircraft.
The returned jets
It is no coincidence that the experts note – Lin Jian, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at the press conference said that he does not appear to be an « order » of the authorities to the country’s airlines that he no longer receives the new Jet Boeing. But at least two 737 Max – the most orderly specimen – intended for the Xiamen Airlines carrier were reported in the Seattle plants. The news, revealed first by the agency Reuterswas then confirmed by a spokesman for the Aviolinea who did not want to provide explanations.
Interdependence
But can China really do without Boeing? According to experts, no. Who believe it is rather A way to press pressure on the White House hitting one of the reference companies of the US economy. The numbers and intertwining reveal more than any other aspect the interdependence between Beijing and the US aerospace giant. In all this there is also the risk that the country finds itself relegated to the bottom of the deliveries. « There are customers, such as Air India and Malaysia Airlines, ready to receive the Boeing rejected by the Chinese, even at further discounted prices, » explain the experts.
The impact
At the moment 40% of the fleet Chinese airline airlines is made up of Boeing. These aircraft are fundamental for national short -range connectivity, a non -secondary aspect in such a vast country. That’s why, with these numbers (not to mention the related spare parts and services) The US specimens cannot disappear from today without consequences.
The numbers
Among the 1,726 Boeing as well as 1,519 are used for passenger transport, according to the data provided to Courier from the specialized platform CH-Aviation. And of these 169 are « Widebody », used for intercontinental connections, the other 1,350 are single corridor such as Boeing 737 (classics and max) for short and medium routes. If the number of jet says little, just think that in 2025 Chinese carriers planned over 2.4 million flights with Boeing – – Cirium certification -, equal to 436 million seats and around 42% of the overall offer.
Orders
The other theme, more linked to the commercial war, is related to orders. Chinese airlines requested 107 Boeing out of 1,064 (the data exclude from the Hong Kong count), equal to 10% of the country’s total orders. Although it seems little in reality not to receive these jets would end up compromising the industrial plans of the Chinese aviolinees. Not only that. The application of duties of 125% on used imports would also make the European planes made by Airbus more expensive but which have « made in the USA » components, such as Pratt & Whitney, GE Aerospace and CFM International engines.
The Chinese aircraft
The massive use of US parties (from 48 American suppliers) also in the planes of the Chinese manufacturer Comac – Starting from C919 – He would end up compromising Beijing’s attempt to sell his specimen into the world. From CFM Leap-1 engines (made by the Franco-American Consortium CFM International) to the Viodonic (of the US Honeywell, Parker Aerospace) up to the instrumentation in the piloting cabin (of the American Eaton) the C919 flies thanks and above all to western technology.
« Counterproductive separation »
If all this is added the fact that there are about 430 Boeing in the portfolio to the Chinese « Lessor », the companies that rent the aircraft to the Aviolinees – of which a third lent to vectors outside China – it is clear that « given the profound intertwining of the global supply chains in the aviation sector and the current deficiency of offer, a significant disqualification (not to mention a complete one) between China and Boeing appears Extremely unlikely and highly counterproductive for all parts involved », comments Arvind Chandrasekhar, by Lufthansa Consulting.
