Fortune and Planes, Indy! Boeing's China Deliveries Soar Again!

That Belongs In a Museum! (or a Chinese Hangar)

Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes trade wars? Just when I thought I could settle down with a good book and a map news breaks that Boeing's airplane deliveries to China which were paused due to some hullabaloo with tariffs are back on! Apparently Mr. Ortberg the CEO convinced them that even Chinese potentates can't live without American engineering. Who knew diplomacy could be more thrilling than outrunning a boulder?

Fortune and Glory Kid. Fortune and Glory!

Ortberg says the first deliveries are slated for next month. This is quite a turnabout as he mentioned just last month that China had put a stop to them. I am starting to believe this is as twisty as a bazaar in Cairo! For Boeing a major U.S. exporter this is like finding the Sankara Stones – a major win that helps balance the scales of the U.S. trade deficit.

Tariffs? We Hate Tariffs!

Of course there's always a catch. Boeing's been coughing up cash for tariffs on imported components from Italy and Japan for their wide body Dreamliners. But fear not intrepid travelers! Ortberg assures us much of it can be recouped when the planes are exported again. It seems like even Boeing is doing the ol' switcheroo to avoid paying those tariffs. It is like I always say 'It's not the years honey it's the mileage'… or in this case the tariffs.

The FAA's Got a Number: 38

Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. The FAA still has a leash on Boeing capping the 737 Max production at 38 a month. A door plug that wasn't properly secured – honestly it is just like the booby traps I find in tombs! – caused a mid air incident. Ortberg believes they can hit 42 jets a month by midyear. Hopefully they will secure those door plugs this time.

Lost in the Supply Chain (Again!)

Airline executives are singing Ortberg's praises claiming he's turning the ship around. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said supply chain problems are slowing things down like trying to navigate a jungle with a rusty machete. "We over ordered aircraft believing the supply chain would be challenged," he said. Sounds like someone wasn't prepared for a little adventure!

Next Adventure? The Max 7 and Max 10 Certification!

Boeing's got their eyes on certifying the Max 7 and Max 10 by the end of the year. If they pull it off it would be quite the achievement like finding the Holy Grail except instead of eternal life it's more planes in the sky. For now I will keep my fedora on my whip close and my eye on the skies. Adventure awaits and so do those Boeing deliveries!