The Chinese-made C919 is expected to start flying commercially to Southeast Asia no later than 2026.
In an interview this week with Chinese media, Yang Yang – Deputy Marketing Director of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) said the company wants to expand operations beyond the domestic market. The first step is to help the C919 start flying commercially to Southeast Asia no later than 2026. They also aim to be licensed by Europe early this year.
From January 1, China Eastern Airlines added Hong Kong to its flight routes using C919. This is the plane’s first destination outside mainland China. Yang did not reveal whether COMAC has discussed with any airlines about flying to Southeast Asia or other foreign markets.
The C919 on a test flight to Hong Kong in December 2023. Image: Reuters
C919 will fly commercially from May 2023, currently operated by Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. Positioned as a rival to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, the C919 is currently only operating in mainland China and needs flight safety approval from foreign authorities to move to the world.
“We hope to increase C919 deployment in China, to detect all shortcomings before expanding to Southeast Asia,” Yang said.
C919 is the result of Comac’s 14 years of development, certified by China at the end of September 2022. In 2024, COMAC delivers 12 C919s to 3 domestic airlines. They expect that by 2028, capacity will increase to 150 units a year.
Over the past year, COMAC has also actively promoted its products abroad, especially Southeast Asia and Saudi Arabia. They are also developing wide-body aircraft.
COMAC is trying to break the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the global passenger aircraft industry. COMAC’s statement was made in the context that both Boeing and Airbus are having trouble with supply chains and labor. Boeing was even immersed in a flight safety crisis throughout the past year.