Here's Why Boeing's China Breakthrough Still Leaves It Behind Airbus In 2026

Boeing is fighting to claw back a long-lost backlog slot while Airbus has spent months locking down nearly 200 firm Airbus A320neo commitments across Air China, China Southern, and Xiamen Airlines. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed on September 21, 2026, that roughly 150 of the 200 Boeing commitment slots are actively moving through formalization. The expected mix blends domestic Boeing 737 MAX narrowbodies with international Boeing 787 aircraft, but Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg clarified that specific allocations will be announced by individual Chinese carriers at their own pace rather than as a single consolidated block.