The long-standing dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the passenger aircraft market has begun to be challenged by the rise of China’s COMAC. The Chinese state-backed company is becoming a prominent global player in this sector, particularly with the models it has developed in recent years. COMAC’s latest model, the C919, has already caught the attention of international airlines.

COMAC Will Challenge Boeing and Airbus

Founded in 2008, COMAC faced numerous production and engineering challenges in its early stages. Its first model, the C909, was developed as an aircraft suitable only for short-haul flights. With a capacity of 78 to 90 passengers, this model was intended only for the Chinese domestic market. However, this situation changed with the development of the C919.

The C919 was designed to directly compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The single-aisle model, which seats 168 passengers, can operate longer range flights than previous COMAC aircraft.

This has enabled COMAC to offer a product that can compete in the global market for the first time. According to company data, 19 C919s have entered commercial service to date. It is anticipated that 30 more aircraft will be added to this number by the end of the year.

Production capacity is planned to increase to 50 units annually by 2026. Orders exceed 1,000, with the majority of this demand coming from Chinese airlines. However, the model is attracting interest not only within China but also internationally.

Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest airlines, highlighted the C919’s price advantage, saying it could be attractive to low-cost carriers. Some South Asian countries, such as Indonesia, have also initiated negotiations regarding the acquisition.