China Business News reported that on the morning of the 24th, a Boeing 737 Max aircraft, not yet delivered to Air China, took off from the Boeing Completion Center in Zhoushan, bound for Seattle, the site of Boeing's final assembly plant. This was the third Boeing aircraft to be returned this week. China Business News also noted that Juneyao Airlines had also confirmed a delay in receiving a Boeing 787 aircraft that was originally scheduled for delivery.
Many Chinese netizens are discussing this matter, with some discussing the possibility of China having to pay a huge penalty for breach of contract. They are also discussing how to manage the maintenance and parts replacement of the large number of Boeing aircraft currently in China.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing CEO Ortberg said in an interview with CNBC and an analyst conference call on the 23rd that if airlines do not accept the aircraft, Boeing will stop manufacturing aircraft for China and that Boeing can find other buyers for the aircraft rejected by China. He said, "We will not continue to manufacture aircraft for customers who do not want to take aircraft," he said. "We will resell these aircraft to those who want them."
