Boeing and its joint venture partner Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China delivered the first airplane from a 737 aircraft series completion and delivery center in Zhoushan, China.

Air China received the first plane, a MAX 8, that was assembled in Renton, Washington, and completed in China.

Boeing said that the 100-acre 737 completion and delivery center is the first such Boeing facility outside of the United States. The facility was built in partnership with the Zhejiang provincial and Zhoushan municipal governments and will become fully operational in phases as capacity expands.

The facility covers 666,000 sq ft and is designed to support the 737 MAX series of airplanes. Source: BoeingThe facility covers 666,000 sq ft and is designed to support the 737 MAX series of airplanes. Source: BoeingThe facility covers 666,000 sq ft and is designed to support the 737 MAX series of airplanes. About one third of all 737 deliveries go to Chinese customers.

Boeing 737 MAXs for Chinese airlines are flown from Seattle to Zhoushan, where the joint Boeing-COMAC completion center completes interior work on the airplanes. The statement of work will expand to include painting with the addition of three paint hangers. Once completed, planes move to a Boeing-operated delivery center for customer acceptance and delivery.

China is on course to become the world's largest commercial aviation market. Boeing's latest Commercial Market Outlook forecasts that China will need 7,680 new airplanes worth $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years and another $1.5 trillion in commercial services to support the airplanes.