COMAC Aims for C919 Production Leap, Targets International Competition
Shanghai, China - COMAC, the Chinese aircraft manufacturer, has announced plans to significantly ramp up production of its homegrown C919 single-aisle jet. The company aims to produce 50 aircraft in 2023, a substantial increase from the 30 units targeted earlier.
COMAC Deputy General Manager Shen Bo revealed these ambitious targets in an interview with The Paper. The move is part of COMAC's strategy to compete globally with industry leaders Airbus and Boeing.
Scaling up production and securing certification from foreign regulators are crucial for COMAC's growth. The C919 entered commercial service in 2023, and around 16 planes are currently in operation with Chinese airlines, primarily within the mainland and recently to Hong Kong.
Aviation consultancy Cirium estimates that an additional 27 C919 jets will be delivered this year. China's three major state-owned airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, have announced orders for at least 100 C919s each, targeting a fleet of 300 aircraft by 2031.
In addition to the C919, COMAC is pursuing the development of the larger C929 wide-body jet. Shen stated that the C929 is currently in the preliminary design and supplier selection phase, with detailed design work expected to commence shortly. Air China has been announced as the launch customer for the C929.
COMAC's production expansion and international ambitions signal a growing challenge to the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the global aviation market.