The First Commercial Aircraft ‘Made in China’ Has Been a Success. It’s Preparing to Take On Airbus and Boeing

After a tumultuous manufacturing process, China introduced its new C919 aircraft in June 2023. This narrow-body (single-center aisle) commercial aircraft made its first flight between Shanghai and Beijing, marking the culmination of over a decade of work. Built to international standards, the aircraft reflects the country’s ambition to enter a market currently dominated by industry giants like Boeing and Airbus.

The initial reception has been positive, with airlines placing orders for hundreds of C919s. Moreover, China is already working on a second-generation aircraft, the wide-body C939.

An achievement. The C919 aircraft was manufactured by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation China (COMAC). On its website, this state-owned company proudly states that the C919 is the “first jet-type trunk liner independently developed by China in accordance with international airworthiness standards and owing independent intellectual property right.” Notably, the company specifies that the C919 is the “first jet-type,” considering it previously developed the ARJ21, a small turbofan regional aircraft.

But today we're talking about the C919. COMAC designed this new aircraft to compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The C919 is 127.6 feet long, 39.2 feet high, and can accommodate between 158 and 192 passengers, depending on the seating configuration. Additionally, it has a range of between 2,500 to 3,450 miles.

Made in China (with some Western parts). The company faces a challenge because while the aircraft is manufactured in China, many of the crucial components and parts are from the West. For instance, the engines are French. Meanwhile, the flight control system, weather radar, and control panel, among other components, are American. Additionally, they utilize British and German systems. However, some of the fuselage and construction are done in China.

Success. COMAC initially estimated it would produce 150 aircraft per year for five years. However, the company recently reported more than 1,200 orders for the C919. Some experts said that most of them were “letters of intent” from domestic customers. Despite initial skepticism, though, the aircraft has proven to be a success, with Air China recently placing an order for 100 units (totaling around $11 billion). To meet the growing demand, COMAC is expanding its facilities.

Last May, Reuters reported that, according to the China Aviation Planning and Design Institute Group (AVIC-CAPDI), COMAC had won the tender for the second phase of its construction project for the C919. The new facility, located in Shanghai, will cover an area of more than 3.5 million square feet.

The AVIC-CAPDI says this project “will meet the future batch production needs of the C919 large passenger aircraft, effectively improving its production efficiency and providing strong support for the commercial operation and market competition of domestically produced big aircraft.”

Unbridled ambition. The C919 is a source of pride for China. So much so that the country is seeking certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and is already marketing the model in Southeast Asia. However, China’s plans go even further. According to the South China Morning Post, the Asian giant is aiming to secure a position in the international market to challenge the dominance of the two large aerospace companies.

With the second assembly line, COMAC will be able to build each unit faster. As such, China is already looking to overtake the U.S. by the 2030s or 2040s. These are ambitious plans, as the country intends to compete not just with one model but with three.

Wide-body C939 and C929. After successfully developing the C919 model, China and Russia began working on the development of the C929, a wide-body aircraft with two aisles. However, after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia pulled out of the joint project, and international sanctions followed. Sources told the South China Morning Post indicate that although China viewed Russia’s withdrawal as a setback, it didn’t deter the country from continuing the project.

“Russia’s departure does have some impact, but we can manage that… Work [on the C929] is underway and progressing smoothly, utilizing the same experience, support and system coordination we already have for the design and development of the C919… The time needed can be similar,” the source said, according to the outlet.

However, this won’t be the only wide-body aircraft from COMAC. The company is also developing the C939 aircraft, a rival to compete with larger aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. Unfortunately, there are no details available about either aircraft at this time.

Plans to make it a true “Made in China” aircraft. China is making a significant effort to develop its own line of commercial aircraft. There are concerns about potential sanctions from the West, similar to what the auto industry is currently experiencing. In this regard, Beijing's goal is to invest more in domestic core technologies, starting with parts like landing gear and engines.

Image | Ken Chen | S5A-0043

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