Indian airlines could soon get more planes as China decides to stop buying Boeing aircraft. This move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 145% tariffs on some Chinese goods. In response, China has told its airlines not to buy planes from Boeing.
Chinese airlines were expecting around 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets and 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These are the same models that Indian carriers like Air India Express and Akasa have ordered. Experts believe that many of these aircraft, originally meant for Chinese airlines, could now be redirected to Indian carriers.
Last year, Air India Express took 25 “white tail” Boeing aircraft—planes that were built for a specific customer but sold to someone else. They are expecting 25 more soon. With China stepping back, Indian airlines like Air India Express and Akasa may get more white tails or newly built Boeing aircraft.
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Because of this shift, unused production slots at Boeing’s Seattle factory—originally meant for China—may now be available for Indian orders. Both Akasa and Air India Express have the financial strength to buy more aircraft if they become available.
However, Boeing aircraft deliveries have been slow, which has already affected Akasa. The airline currently has more pilots than planes, leaving many crew members without work.
On the other hand, Airbus, Boeing’s main competitor, might see a rise in Chinese orders. China could ask Airbus to provide more A320 aircraft since Boeing jets are now harder to get.
This situation is part of a larger U.S.-China trade war. Companies in the global aviation industry are now rethinking their deals. Changing tariffs and rising costs are making things complicated. Some airlines may even delay their aircraft deliveries to avoid high taxes.
China’s biggest airlines—Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern—had planned to receive many Boeing aircraft between 2025 and 2027. But now, they might cancel or delay those plans.
China has also reportedly told its airlines to stop buying aircraft parts from U.S. companies. However, some sources say there hasn’t been an official ban yet.
Even though a short pause in deliveries to China won’t severely hurt Boeing, it could help Indian airlines who are ready and waiting to take in more Boeing aircraft.
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If China cuts off all aircraft parts from the U.S., it could also harm its own airplane programs, like the C919, which still depend on American technology.
In 2019, China was the first country to ground the Boeing 737 MAX after two deadly crashes. They also froze most new orders. Now, with new tariffs reaching up to 125%, Boeing aircraft have become much more expensive for Chinese buyers. This could push Chinese airlines to look at Airbus or their own aircraft manufacturer, COMAC.
The growing trade fight between the U.S. and China—worth over $650 billion in 2024—could seriously impact the global aviation industry.
