Boeing announced on May 28, 2025 that China will initially purchase 200 jets, a figure the company’s chief executive Kelly Ortberg described as the first tranche of a much larger agreement. Ortberg told a U.S. conference that the order, aimed at Air China, China Eastern and China Southern, will be formalised later this year and could eventually total up to 700 planes if suply‑chain guarantees are met.

200 Jets as a “Super Successful” Opening Tranche

Kelly Ortberg testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on April 2,2025, and later highlighted the 200‑jet commitment at a Washington conference, calling the trip “super successful.” He emphasized that the deal reopens the Chinese market to Boeing’s narrow‑body fleet after a decade‑long freeze caused by U.S.–China trade tensions.

Potential Expansion to 300‑500 More Jets, Up to 700 Total

A source close to the negotiations told reporters that China may announce additional commitments in stages, possibly adding 300 to 500 jets and pushing the total to as many as 700 aircraft. this projection aligns with former President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the eventual purchase could reach 750 planes.

U.S. Parts‑Supply Guarantees as a Deal Condition

The agreement hinges on a U.S. pledge to guarantee the supply of critical spare parts for jets already operating in China, a precondition confirmed by China’s commerce ministry. according to the source, ongoing trade frictions—including U.S. threats of export controls on parts in response to Chinese limits on rare‑earth minerals—have complicated Boeing’s ability to meet this guarantee.

Investor Disappointment Over the 200‑Jet Figure

Investors had hoped for a package of roughly 500 planes, a number reportedly discussed before the 2022 Trump‑Xi meeting. Ortberg clarified, “I never had a plan to go to China and return with a packet full of 500 orders,” underscoring that the current 200‑jet order is entirely new and does not incorporate any previously unannounced orders.

Who Gets the Jets? State‑Owned Carriers Take Lead

The 200 aircraft are slated for China’s three major state‑owned airlines—Air China,China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines.. ortberg explaied that once the Chinese government commits to a batch of narrow‑body aircraft, it allocates them to the carriers, after which Boeing negotiates firm orders with each airline individually.