Us-china Trade War: Indian Airlines May Benefit From Boeing’s ‘unsold Fleet’

Indian carriers for illustration Air India Express and Akasa Air whitethorn look arsenic indirect beneficiaries of nan existent waste and acquisition warfare betwixt nan US and China.

Earlier this week, China directed its airlines to debar purchasing Boeing craft successful retaliation to US President Donald Trump’s move to enforce 245% tariffs connected definite imports from China.

Boeing’s superior manufacturing and assembly hubs—the Everett and Renton Production Facilities adjacent Seattle, Washington—are known for their high-volume output of some commercialized and defence aircraft.

Reports propose that Chinese airlines presently await transportation of astir 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets—the aforesaid craft exemplary ordered by some Air India Express and Akasa Air. In fact, till 2027, China’s 3 biggest carriers—Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern—were scheduled to person 45, 53, and 81 Boeing aircraft, respectively, per nan reports.

With Beijing’s diktat to its airlines disrupting nan bid pipeline, nan Indian aviation assemblage whitethorn beryllium good positioned to capitalise connected this opportunity. Air India’s monolithic bid book includes 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and 10 Boeing 777X widebody aircraft. In nan narrowbody segment, nan hose has placed orders 190 Boeing 737 MAX jets—potentially positioning it good amid Boeing’s shifting world proviso priorities.

“Aircraft acquisition and acquisition are beautiful analyzable subjects but a bully woody from a shaper keeps our costs successful check, particularly erstwhile location is deficiency of aircrafts successful nan market,” a elder hose executive told Business Today TV.

Delayed Boeing deliveries person already impacted India’s newest airline, Akasa, which presently employs acold much pilots than its existent fleet demands.

However, arsenic per manufacture analysts, some Akasa and Tata group-owned Air India Express person nan financial headroom to sorb further aircraft, should they go available. 

Published on: Apr 17, 2025 8:09 PM IST