Boeing Co. is heading closer toward finalizing a deal with China to sell as many as 500 aircraft, according to people familiar with the matter, a transaction that would end a sales drought that stretches back to US President Donald Trump’s last visit in 2017.

Boeing is in talks to sell as many as 500 jets to China, according to Bloomberg News."This is wonderful news for Washington [state], obviously, with new jobs,"

China will need an estimated 8,800-plus planes over the next 20 years to meet rising demand for air travel, according to Boeing’s commercial- market outlook. About 60% of that demand would come from airlines expanding their fleets, while airlines replacing older jets with more fuel-efficient models would account for the rest.