May 13, 2025 - Economy

Boeing's flying high with trade deals

Nathan Bomey

A Boeing Co. 737 Max airplane outside the company's manufacturing facility. — A Boeing 737 Max airplane outside the company's manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington. Photo: David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Boeing got a double dose of good news Tuesday as the global trade landscape shifted sharply in the company's favor.

The big picture: A critical manufacturer for U.S. exports, Boeing has been dealing with a series of challenges in recent years, including a quality crisis, legal problems, labor issues and, most recently, trade walls.

Driving the news: China ended a ban on its airlines acquiring Boeing jets after striking a trade deal with the Trump administration, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The country had effectively halted imports of American jets and aircraft parts in retaliation for Trump's tariffs.

Separately, the Saudi Public Investment Fund's AviLease has ordered up to 30 new single-aisle Boeing 737-8 jets, Boeing announced.

Zoom out: The AviLease deal was the first Boeing purchase by the three-year old global aircraft lessor, which owns and manages a fleet of 200 aircraft supplied to 48 airlines.

It was timed to coincide with President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, where he touted the country's plans to invest in the U.S., including the Boeing purchase.
Meanwhile, just a week ago Trump's trade deal with U.K. was coupled with word that British Airways parent IAG was preparing a $13 billion order for 32 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

The bottom line: Boeing appears to be getting back on its feet.

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Boeing's flying high with trade deals

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