Boeing could be nearing its first major Chinese aircraft order in nearly a decade, with Bloomberg reporting that China is close to placing an order for as many as 500 737 MAX jets ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming trip to Beijing. Reuters, citing the Bloomberg report, said the deal could be unveiled during Trump’s March 31 to April 2, 2026, visit to China.
If confirmed, the deal would rank among the largest commercial aircraft orders in Boeing’s history and mark a significant breakthrough for the US planemaker in one of the world’s biggest aviation markets.
China and Boeing have reportedly also been in talks over a potential widebody order involving about 100 787 Dreamliner and 777X jets, though those discussions remain separate and unresolved. Boeing declined to comment, according to Reuters.
Trump’s Beijing visit is expected to focus heavily on trade and broader efforts to stabilize US-China relations.
China remains one of the biggest long-term growth markets for air travel, but Boeing’s position there has been weakened by years of geopolitical strain, delivery freezes, and shifting competitive dynamics that helped Airbus gain ground. Reuters reported that Chinese carriers currently account for just 2% of Boeing’s identified order book, while unidentified customers make up 13.6% of its backlog.
Boeing expects to deliver about 500 737s this year. It delivered 51 aircraft in February, including 43 MAX jets, its strongest February delivery total since 2018.