The “tariff war” between the United States and China is making headlines around the world and upsetting the already delicate process of delivering Boeing aircraft to China. The on-again-off-again status of deliveries is creating a logistical headache for Boeing.

In March 2025, two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft made their delivery flight from Seattle Boeing Field (BFI/KBFI) for China, as both were scheduled to join a Chinese carrier. However, a few weeks later, the 737s left the country, returning to Boeing’s U.S. factory, without ever having performed a regular flight in China.

These airplanes, as can be seen in our database, were in the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) for almost 30 days. There was no official comment on their return to Seattle in mid-April, but it is assumed that it would be due to the US-China disputes.

The first of these, Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration N230BE, returned to Seattle Boeing Field on April 19th, covering the Zhoushan – Guam – Honolulu – Seattle route. This aircraft had arrived in Zhoushan (HSN/ZSZS) on March 20th from BFI via Kailua-Kona and Guam.

A second 737 MAX, which has the registry N242BE, landed in Seattle on April 22nd performing the same route from China. In both cases, they were scheduled to join Xiamen Air (MF/CXA), a Chinese airline with 22 737 MAXs in its fleet.

Schedule

737 MAX N230BE

• BOE 376  Zhoushan HSN 08:20 · 12:20 GUM Guam (April 18th)
• BOE 376  Guam GUM 06:28 (April 19th) · 17:25 (April 18th) HNL Honolulu
• BOE 376  Honolulu HNL 09:29 · 18:11 BFI Seattle (April 19th)

737 MAX N242BE

• BOE 339  Zhoushan HSN 10:24 · 14:28 GUM Guam (April 22nd)
• BOE 339  Guam GUM 09:32 (April 22nd) · 17:47 (April 21st) HNL Honolulu
• BOE 339  Honolulu HNL 09:32 · 17:47 BFI Seattle (April 22nd)

Both 737 MAXs departed Seattle Boeing Field on May 7th for Moses Lake (MWH/KMWH), where they are currently located.

As per our database, 13 Chinese airlines have Boeing 737 MAXs, and operate more than 150 737 MAX 8s between them.

China Southern: 34

Air China: 26

Xiamen Air: 22

Hainan Airlines: 17

Shanghai Airlines: 16

Shenzhen Airlines: 13

Shandong Airlines: 12

9 Air: 5

China Eastern: 4

Lucky Air: 4

Donghai Airlines: 2

Fuzhou Airlines: 2

Kunming Airlines: 2

The first Boeing 737 MAX 8 in China

Air China (CA/CCA) was the first Chinese airline to add a Boeing 737 MAX to its fleet, which was the Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration B-1397. The aircraft departed on November 3rd, 2017 from Seattle Boeing Field bound for Beijing with stopovers in Honolulu and Guam. In accordance with our database, this 737 MAX has the MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 60872 and is one of the oldest in active service, having made its first flight in August 2017.

737 MAXs deliveries back to China?

As of mid-May, it appears Chinese airlines are once again preparing to accept 737 MAX deliveries, so these aircraft may be headed back across the Pacific soon enough.

With respect to future orders, Boeing stated in April, prior to the returns of two 737 MAXs and the Chinese government’s refusal to allow Chinese airlines to add more Boeing aircraft, that it had 10 737 MAX 8s ready for delivery to Chinese carriers, including China Southern Airlines, Air China and Xiamen Air, the main operators of this aircraft in China. There are still pending deliveries of 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8s built prior to 2023, of which about 25 would be taken to Chinese airlines, as per Boeing.

Boeing 737 MAX database

We have 1887 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft registered in our database, being 27 Boeing 737 MAX 7, 1591 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 269 Boeing 737 MAX 9. By clicking here you can have more information about each one, such as their MSN, airline, first flight and age, and you can also follow them through Flightradar.

Cover photo: Johnny_Tian – JetPhotos (Guangzhou Baiyun Airport – ZGGG – China)