The C919 jet – a single-aisle passenger plane aiming to rival Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320 – is made by state-owned aircraft manufacturer COMAC. Beijing is showcasing it as evidence of China’s technological advancement and progress in self-reliance, though it uses many Western sourced components.
Trade friction with Washington threatens to prevent COMAC from securing core parts for the program that has been supported by huge Chinese government subsidies.
“COMAC faces significant risk from the volatile policy environment, with its supply chains vulnerable to export restrictions and tt-for-tat measures between the U.S. and China,” said Max J. Zenglein, Asia-Pacific senior economist at The Conference Board think tank.*
The C919 has 48 major suppliers from the U.S. – including GE, Honeywell and Collins – 26 from Europe and 14 from China, according to analysts at the Bank of America. Trump threatened to impose new export controls on “critical” software to China after Beijing imposed stricter export controls on rare earths.
State owned COMAC delivers only seven aircraft this year against target of 30 as trade tensions and supply chain issues hamper ambitious aviation program
COMAC delivered 13 C919s to Chinese carriers last year, showing modest progress from the program’s 2023 commercial launch. The current production pace suggests the company will fall substantially short of expansion plans that envisioned rapid scaling of manufacturing capabilities to meet domestic and international demand.
- COMAC’s jetliner makes display flight at Dubai Airshow
- Company has ambitions of taking on Boeing, Airbus
- Its two planes lack certifications from Western regulators
Chinese officials declined to answer questions about efforts to find their first buyer outside East Asia, but their marketing compared the ambitious project to Dubai’s own transformation.
I assume aircraft certification by the West will NOT occur soon. Thus keeping the C919 from US & EU airspace.
A good thing for Boeing & Airbus.
While Comac does not officially publish a list price for the C919, estimates suggest that the aircraft may cost between $90-100 million. This price point is fairly competitive when taking into account the Airbus A320neo being listed at $111 million and the Boeing 737 MAX 8 at $121 million.