Boeing deliveries to China delayed by state regulator review, source says

Boeing's plane deliveries to China have been delayed in recent weeks due to a Chinese regulatory review of batteries powering the cockpit voice recorder, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The US planemaker said it is working with Chinese customers on the timing of their deliveries as the Civil Aviation Administration of China completes its review of batteries contained within the 25-hour cockpit voice recorder. In a year-end 2023 filing, Boeing said it had about 140 737 MAX 8 aircraft in inventory, including 85 aircraft for customers in China. Boeing has delivered 22 aircraft to China in 2024 through the end of April but in recent weeks the company has not delivered any new planes to Chinese customers pending the review, which had not been previously reported. Boeing CFO Brian West told investors last month the planemaker still expected "to deliver most of these inventoried airplanes by year-end." It is unclear how long the review may last or the extent to which it may impact Boeing delivery targets. Boeing said the Federal Aviation Administration has certified the 25-hour CVR system, which stores more data than earlier versions of cockpit voice recorders (CVR) and has been accepted by European regulators. "We defer to the FAA and the CAAC on this regulatory discussion," Boeing said. The FAA did not immediately comment. Trade tensions have persisted between the world's two largest economies. On Wednesday, US trade officials said new higher tariffs on $18b in Chinese goods would start to take effect on Aug. 1.<br/>