Boeing's commercial aircraft deliveries this year have already been affected by global trade skirmishes sparked by recently imposed US tariffs, specifically deliveries to carriers based in China. The damage might ultimately be confined to the US manufacturer's exports to China, or it might spread to its scheduled deliveries of new aircraft to countries in Europe. Nobody seems to be sure of what will happen next, and that includes Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg. "The only region that we have an issue with aircraft delivery today is China," Ortberg said on 23 April during an earnings call. "I can't predict where this is going to go. I don't know any better than anybody reporting." Ortberg is bracing himself for "potential retaliatory tariffs from other countries, which could affect our ability to deliver aircraft". He adds: "One thing that we have to watch is to make sure we don't see more countries in a similar boat as where we are with China. We're watching the EU." He notes that "many" of Boeing's customers in China have indicated that they will not take delivery of aircraft produced by the airframer. "We have approximately 50 China deliveries in our plan for the balance of the year," Ortberg says. "We're in close communication with our China customers, and we're actively assessing options for remarketing already-built or in-process airplanes. "For the nine airplanes not yet in the production system, we're engaged with our customers to understand their intentions for taking delivery. And, if necessary, we have the ability to assign those positions to other customers." A "reciprocal tariff to rectify trade practices" on certain products imported to the USA was signed on 2 April by US president Donald Trump, with implementation set for 9 April. An executive order signed by Trump on 9 April notes that China had announced that it would retaliate against tariffs specified in the 2 April executive order, which led to an 8 April executive order from the White House stipulating a raising of the tariff against imports to the USA from China. Cirium fleets data shows that one new 737 Max 8 (MSN 65275) was delivered to China Southern Airlines on 5 April, and one 777-200LRF (MSN 69512) was delivered to China Cargo Airlines on 8 April. On 22 April, data showed that six additional Max 8s were scheduled to be delivered to Chinese operators in April. By the next day, that number had dwindled to three. Boeing in response to a question about its scheduled deliveries in April advised that it will release commercial airplane orders and deliveries data for that month on 13 May. "We don’t preview airplane deliveries ahead of that milestone," it adds. Boeing finance chief Brian West noted during the 23 April earnings call that approximately 70% of the company's commercial deliveries this year are planned for customers outside the USA. "Specifically on China, it represents approximately 10% of our commercial backlog, and if we need to redirect supply to more stable demand, a strong market backdrop across the rest of the world still supports our planned production-rate increases," West says. He adds: "There is strong demand for these airplanes, and we are actively assessing options should we need to redirect the 41 China airplanes that are already built or currently in production." West warns that Boeing would be under additional pressure "if tariff-related impacts expand beyond China". Ortberg notes that "signs" indicate that there are "opportunities" for negotiated settlements between the USA and its trade partners. "I can't tell you the timing of when this is going to all get resolved, but I can tell you we're going to take proactive action and manage our way through it." He notes that it is likely that "both [Airbus chief executive] Guillaume [Faury] and I would welcome a non-tariff environment for both of us". "This isn't good for either company to be in this situation, or the industry."

US carriers have surpassed the rate of the global rise in CO2 emitted during commercial airline passenger operations in the first quarter of this year compared with the first quarter of 2019. During the first quarter of 2025, the 10 US carriers with the most scheduled capacity in that period emitted 6% more CO2 than in the same period in pre-pandemic 2019, increasing from 33 million metric tonnes to 34.9 million, as fuel burn rose from 10.5 million metric tonnes to 11 million, data shows. CO2 emissions from commercial airline passenger operations globally during the first quarter of 2025 were 1% higher than in the same period in 2019. For the 10 US carriers – United, American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian and Allegiant – the number of aircraft in commercial passenger service that are tracked for emissions and fuel burn was up 14% in the first quarter of 2025 versus the first quarter of 2019, rising from 4,248 to 4,842 aircraft.

BOC Aviation has confirmed that it has signed to lease five new Airbus A321neos from its orderbook to Thai Airways International. The Singapore-based lessor states that the aircraft will be powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines. Fleet's data shows that the aircraft are tentatively planned for delivery in 2027 and 2028. "We are pleased to be working once more with long-time customer, Thai Airways," says BOC Aviation chief executive and managing director Steven Townend "The delivery of these technologically advanced aircraft is an important transaction in the development of our portfolio and will support Thai Airways as it expands its fleet and regional network." Thai currently leases seven Boeing 777-300ERs from BOC Aviation, fleets data shows.