Boeing has delivered the first of two 777 freighters ordered by Suparna Airlines, marking the first new-build freighter to be handed over to a Chinese carrier since the start of the US-China tariff dispute.
The US manufacturer confirmed the delivery on Thursday via its official WeChat account. Nearly 60 Boeing 777 freighters are already in service with six Chinese airlines.
China blocked Boeing jet deliveries earlier this year in response to tariffs imposed by Washington, though restrictions were later eased after both sides agreed to a temporary truce.
The milestone comes as Boeing seeks to revive its position in the world’s second-largest aviation market.
Bloomberg reported last month that the company is in talks to sell as many as 500 aircraft to China, which would represent a significant breakthrough after years of stalled orders.
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers visiting Beijing this week said they had discussed a potential deal with senior Chinese leaders that would see Beijing commit to buying more Boeing jets.
Asked about new purchases on Thursday, Chinese commerce ministry spokesman He Yadong said that “unilateral US restrictive measures” remained the biggest obstacle to normal trade cooperation.