Athira Sethu
Kochi, 21 April 2025
Another Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft that was intended for a Chinese airline is returning to the United States. The aircraft departed from Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center outside Shanghai and arrived in Guam, flight tracking data shows. This follows the return of another 737 MAX, which was painted in the livery of Xiamen Airlines, to Boeing’s home base in Seattle.
The cause of the planes coming back is not certain, but it seems to be related to increasing tensions between China and the U.S. over trade. U.S. President Donald Trump recently increased tariffs on Chinese products to 145%, and China retaliated by imposing a 125% tariff on American goods. This makes it extremely costly for Chinese airlines to accept delivery of U.S.-produced aircraft such as the 737 MAX, which costs approximately $55 million.
The plane had recently traveled to China, part of the normal procedure in which Boeing distributes aircraft from its hub in Seattle to Zhoushan for final preparation before delivering them to Chinese buyers. Guam is usually a stopover on this long journey over the Pacific Ocean.
Since tariffs have now made these deliveries so costly, Boeing will attempt to sell the jets to other carriers. Malaysia Airlines, for instance, has expressed interest in purchasing any plane Chinese carriers no longer need.
Boeing has not commented on the returned planes. The situation highlights how international trade tensions are now affecting the aerospace industry, which has long operated without such tariffs. Some airline leaders have said they may delay accepting new planes rather than pay these high fees.
This is yet another blow for Boeing, which continues to recover from years of delayed deliveries and import restrictions pertaining to its 737 MAX aircraft model.
