China’s aviation regulator has been surveying the country’s airlines to gauge their need for commercial jets made by Boeing, suggesting a possible area in which trade ties between Beijing and Washington might flourish if a broader deal is hammered out.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has requested carriers to update their fleet purchase and renewal plans for 2025 and beyond, according to a source close to the matter.
The agency specifically asked whether the carriers’ plans would include overdue orders for Boeing and what discussions they may have had with the aircraft manufacturer, the source said.
On Monday, CAAC director Song Zhiyong met with Brendan Nelson, a Boeing senior vice-president, in Beijing. The two had a “deep exchange” on further expanding cooperation between China and Boeing, according to a CAAC readout.
In recent years, when bilateral tensions have simmered, Boeing has often found itself on the receiving end of any collateral damage.
But industry insiders said that the company, still a champion of American aerospace technology and manufacturing, will also be in the most forward position to benefit, when there is a thaw marked by trade talks and the coming meetings between top leaders.
