The COMAC C919 is inching closer to commercial services after completing its first delivery to China Eastern in December. To keep up with demand, the Chinese aerospace firm is planning to produce up to 150 aircraft annually in the next five years, allowing it to compete with the likes of Airbus and Boeing in the future.

Production set to rise

As the C919 prepares to carry its first commercial passengers, COMAC is preparing for a flurry of deliveries in the coming years. According to Reuters, Zhang Yujin, Deputy General Manager of COMAC, has said the firm will be producing 150 aircraft per year in the next five years, i.e., 2028.

With an order book of 1,200 aircraft, almost exclusively by Chinese carriers and some foreign lessors, it would take roughly eight years to deliver all planes at this pace. COMAC will be closely looking at customer feedback as it sets out to build an entire production line to support the C919.

Zhang added that interest is high around the narrowbody, saying,

"The first orders are from China Eastern Airlines, and at present a number of carriers are vying for our orders."

Read our top 10 stories in Chinese aviation in 2022 here!

First flight soon

In December, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) cleared the C919 for delivery and production, a huge milestone in the 14-year-long aircraft project. China Eastern Airlines was the first to receive the narrowbody and has embarked on 100 hours of proving flights, as required by CAAC, before starting passenger flights.

The state-owned carrier expects flights to begin in Spring 2023, which is likely to coincide with the delivery of more units to airlines and eventually allow widespread service across the country. China's booming aviation market is likely to jump on the chance for a homegrown narrowbody, despite placing a record-breaking order with Airbus last year for 292 aircraft (on a single day).

It remains to be seen what kind of interest the C919 generates outside its home market. Reports suggest that aircraft's price has risen sharply from early estimates, which might make it a tough sell in developing markets. However, as operations become more commonplace and the plane proves its merit, acceptance is likely to follow as well.

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Competition to Airbus and Boeing?

We've compared the C919 to the likes of the Airbus A320, Boeing 737, and A220 (on paper) in the past. However, will the narrowbody pose a threat to the decades-long duopoly? Boeing has been struggling in China for years now, as political pressure and safety concerns have left its flagship 737 MAX grounded for nearly four years. Despite reports of China Southern resuming services in mid-January, previous attempts were called off at the last second.

However, Airbus is unlikely to feel the pinch very soon. With its plant in Tianjin now rolling out A321s as well, its hefty order book from Chinese airlines means it has no shortage of demand from the populous nation. However, it is inevitable that the government will start to favor its own planemaker, but until scale is achieved, the European planemaker will continue to stretch its advantage.

What do you think about the future of COMAC C919? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Reuters

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  Comac

  Business Type:

  Planemaker

  Date Founded:

  2008-05-11

  CEO:

  He Dongfeng

  Headquarters Location:

  Shanghai, China

  Key Product Lines:

  Comac ARJ21, Comac C919, Comac C929