U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing has begun returning Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to the United States from its completion center in Zhoushan, China, after Chinese airlines refused to accept delivery. The development once again highlights the impact of the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China on the aviation sector.
The first aircraft was a Boeing 737 MAX initially intended for Xiamen Air. It was flown from Zhoushan across the Pacific Ocean, with the first stop in Guam. This aircraft had been delivered from Seattle to China last month via Hawaii and Guam. According to Boeing’s official data, as of the end of March, Chinese airlines and leasing companies had a total of 130 outstanding orders for the aircraft. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump accused China of backing out of a “major Boeing deal.”
📰: Bloomberg
