Boeing¡¯s agreement for 200 jets marks the end of a nine-year drought in China. But the order was considerably smaller than expected ¡ª and a reminder of how much ground it has lost in the world¡¯s second-largest aviation market.
There¡¯s little the American plane maker can do directly to overcome a number of disadvantages in the priority region, especially when it¡¯s being weaponized for diplomatic leverage. But it should make the most of a global aircraft shortage to appeal to Chinese airlines, whose fleet is expected to double over the next two decades due to robust demand for air travel.
That¡¯s why it was a surprise when the confirmed deal was less than half of the 500 that was reportedly in discussion. Boeing hasn¡¯t announced any major sales to commercial airlines in the country since November 2017, during a state visit to Beijing by U.S. President Donald Trump in his first term.
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