SEATTLE (KOMO) -- Washington-based aircraft corporation 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," aviation expert Michael Boyd said.

If the 500 plane deal goes through, it would be the first major deal between China and Boeing in years. Since 2019, Boeing has only recorded 30 orders from China.

China cut Boeing off about five years ago. Since then, they have been doing business with Airbus. I think China understands they need Boeing," Boyd said. "This is Boeing throwing them a lifeline because they need those airplanes."

Boyd said while the deal is big for Boeing and jobs in the state, this also sends a large message on the global aviation scale.

"This also goes out and tells the entire world that Boeing and Airbus are back in the program and there's no one really to argue with them," Boyd said.

"This is the end of the Chinese airliner manufacturing," he added.

He said despite China having a rapidly growing air transportation system, what they have in terms of aircraft is old. And while Boyd said China will rely on Boeing for a new fleet, the question will be whether the company can deliver.

"That's going to be the open question because when it comes to the word 'delivery,' Boeing has been really weak on that over the last several years," he said. "They have a lot of fat in the fire; it remains to be seen if they can pull it off. I think they can."

Boeing has not commented on the pending deal. Earlier this year, Boeing made a sale with Qatar Airlines for 160 jets, in a $96 billion deal.