DELHI- Indian airlines struggling with aircraft shortages may gain unexpected benefits from China’s new directive to its carriers. Chinese airlines must now avoid purchasing Boeing aircraft in response to President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs.
Chinese carriers currently await the delivery of approximately 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets and 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners – the same models ordered by Indian airlines like Air India Express (IX) and Akasa (QP).
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalIndian Airlines Benefits from China
Airline industry specialists told TOI, “We anticipate some of these aircraft, originally destined for Chinese carriers, will be redirected to Indian customers. The previous year or two witnessed a similar occurrence, with white tails being allocated to AI Express (IX) and Akasa (QP).”
White tails are aircraft built for specific customers but later acquired by others. Air India Express (IX) acquired 25 white tail MAX jets last year and planned to receive 25 additional aircraft. “White tail” refers to planes that are complete and ready to fly but lack a designated customer.
Following the US-China tariff dispute, Boeing’s Seattle final assembly line capacity allocated for Chinese carriers will remain unused.
Industry sources indicate that Indian carriers, including AI Express (IX) and Akasa (QP), might receive additional aircraft, either specifically manufactured or white tails.”
Photo: By byeangel from Tsingtao, China – Air China Airbus A320-214 B-6606, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39503533China Demands Airbus Jets
For European manufacturer Airbus, which maintains two final assembly lines for the popular A320 family, China may request increased aircraft availability for its carriers as they shift away from Boeing products.
Boeing’s delivery delays have significantly impacted India’s newest carrier, Akasa (QP), which currently employs more pilots than its present operations require. This has caused dissatisfaction among the idle cockpit crew.
Both Tata group Air India Express (IX) and Akasa (QP) possess sufficient financial capability to accommodate additional aircraft if they become available now.
These budget airlines previously incorporated white tails featuring several rows of 2×2 business seating at the front, as specified by the original customers. They accepted available aircraft from Boeing, whose MAX production has been considerably affected by successive problems.
Photo- Wikimedia Commons; Compiled By Aviation A2ZTrade Wars Affect Global Aviation
The escalating US-China trade conflict now affects the global aerospace industry. Planemakers, airlines, and suppliers are reviewing contracts worth billions of dollars. US supplier Howmet Aerospace sparked debate over who should bear the cost of the tariffs.
Confusion surrounding changing tariffs could leave aircraft deliveries in limbo. Some airline CEOs state they would defer plane deliveries rather than pay duties. China’s top three airlines – Air China (CA), China Eastern Airlines (MU), and China Southern Airlines (CZ) – had planned to take delivery of 179 Boeing planes between 2025 and 2027.
China has also instructed its carriers to halt purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from US companies. However, two aerospace industry sources told Reuters they had not been independently alerted to a blanket ban by China on US aircraft parts.
Analysts suggest that a short-term halt in deliveries to China would not severely impact Boeing. The manufacturer could redirect jets to other airlines, and Airbus cannot serve China alone. China would face greater difficulty banning imports of new US parts needed to support its existing aircraft fleet, including China’s domestically produced C919.
“If China stops buying aircraft components from the US, the C919 program is halted or dead.”
Ron Epstein, Analyst, Bank of America
Photo: X UserChina Considers Airline Support
The Chinese government is exploring ways to assist airlines that lease Boeing jets and now face higher costs.
Beijing’s recent action follows its decision last week to increase levies on US imports to 125% in retaliation against US tariffs. This significantly raises the cost of Boeing jets for Chinese carriers, potentially pushing airlines toward alternatives such as Airbus and domestic manufacturer COMAC.
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