China Launches Boeing 737 Competitor

New C919, a domestically produced passenger airplane from China, successfully completed its maiden flight outside of China at the Singapore Airshow. Although the aircraft had its first commercial flight in May, it has only been granted permission to operate within China’s borders until now.

Industry experts suggest that the single-aisle C919 aircraft produced by China’s state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) could pose a fresh competition for Boeing and Airbus in the commercial aviation industry. Comac revealed during the air show that it had secured an agreement with Tibet Airlines, finalizing an order for 40 of their narrow-body jets. These jets are designed to accommodate a maximum of 192 passengers and can travel distances of up to 3,500 miles (5,644km).

Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus’s commercial aircraft business, reportedly stated during the air show that the C919 is not significantly different from the offerings of Airbus and Boeing. European aerospace giant’s Chief Executive confirmed that the C919 would not cause any major disruptions in the industry, but he acknowledged it as a valid endeavor by China and recognized the ample market room for competition.

Comac has been identified as a potential beneficiary of the challenges faced by Boeing, particularly regarding the 737 Max. Industry analysts believe that the absence of Boeing’s commercial aircraft at the show is due to the aftermath of a mid-flight blowout incident involving a section of the fuselage of a 737 Max 9 aircraft in January.

The C919 aircraft program received approval from the Chinese government authorities in Beijing 16 years ago, but encountered numerous challenges related to regulations and technology, including US export controls. Although the plane is manufactured in China, it heavily depends on Western parts, including flight controls and jet engines. The C919 utilizes the identical engine found in the Airbus A320neo narrow-body passenger jet.