China accelerates strategy to compete with Boeing and Airbus in aircraft manufacturing

China is intensifying its efforts to break the dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the global aircraft market.

The state-backed aircraft manufacturer COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) is seeking international certifications for its homegrown passenger jet, the C919, as part of the nation's broader ambition to rival the Western duopoly, Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media.

Launched in 2023, the C919 has already made its debut in China’s domestic aviation market, flying with major state-owned carriers such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. From January 2025, China Eastern will operate the C919 on its first international route between Hong Kong and Shanghai, signalling the aircraft's move beyond China’s borders.

Yang Yang, COMAC’s Deputy General Manager for marketing and sales, outlined plans to expand the C919’s reach, targeting Southeast Asia by 2026 and seeking European certification in the coming year. He stressed the importance of extensive domestic operations to address any issues before the aircraft enters international markets.

The C919, a key part of President Xi Jinping’s drive for technological self-sufficiency, aims to challenge the longstanding dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the commercial aviation sector. With Boeing struggling financially and facing supply chain issues, there are signs of opportunity for new entrants. The global aviation industry requires over 42,000 new aircraft in the next two decades, with single-aisle planes, like the C919, making up 80% of the demand.

Despite these opportunities, COMAC faces significant hurdles in securing export markets. As of December 2024, only 16 C919s have been delivered to Chinese airlines. Analysts from aviation consultancy IBA predict that COMAC will need to ramp up production significantly to compete in the global market, estimating output could increase to 11 aircraft per month by 2040, bringing the total to nearly 2,000 units. However, they note that for the foreseeable future, Boeing and Airbus will remain the dominant players in the narrow-body aircraft sector.

Certification challenges remain a major obstacle. COMAC is working to obtain certification for the C919 from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), a process that could take years, with analysts doubting any immediate approval. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could also complicate the certification process due to ongoing US-China tensions.

To boost its international prospects, COMAC has opened new offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, focusing on driving orders from overseas customers. However, building the infrastructure needed to support international operations, such as maintenance facilities and training programs, will require significant investment and time.

Some Asian carriers have shown interest in the C919, but maintenance support remains a key concern. TransNusa, an Indonesian airline that has already received three of COMAC’s smaller ARJ21 jets, has expressed interest in operating the C919, but industry insiders indicate that hesitation remains due to the lack of a robust support system.

In addition to the C919, COMAC is also developing the C929, a wide-body jet designed to compete with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and Airbus’s A350. At China’s Zhuhai Airshow in November 2024, COMAC revealed that Air China had become the first airline to commit to flying the C929. However, industry experts predict that the C929 won’t enter service until 2040 and that COMAC will likely remain dependent on foreign engines for its commercial jets.

Despite the challenges, the C919 and C929 represent China’s most ambitious push to date to become a significant player in global aviation. While the company may not be able to capture a substantial global market share in the next decade, it could serve as an important alternative for China’s domestic airlines and help the country achieve its long-term goals of aerospace self-sufficiency.

As China continues to push forward with its aircraft manufacturing ambitions, experts suggest that the country’s aviation industry will remain highly influenced by Western components and technology in the near future. Still, with its growing influence in the region and a clear state-backed push, COMAC is setting itself up as a serious challenger to Boeing and Airbus in the decades to come.

By Tamilla Hasanova