China’s Air China and China Southern Airlines Receive First C919 Aircraft

Air China and China Southern Airlines become the next two airlines in China to prepare to operate the domestically developed C919 passenger aircraft.

China’s Air China and China Southern Airlines Receive First C919 Aircraft

According to China Central Television (CCTV), Air China and China Southern Airlines received their first batch of C919 aircraft on August 28 at the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) factory in Pudong, Shanghai. The aircraft delivered to Air China features 158 seats, including 8 business class and 150 economy class seats. Both Air China and China Southern are expected to receive two more C919s this year, according to Yicai.

The C919 began commercial flights in May 2023, operated by China Eastern Airlines, which currently uses 7 of these aircraft for domestic flights.

The C919 was showcased at the Singapore Airshow 2024. Photo: AP

The C919 represents 14 years of development by COMAC and received certification from China in late September 2022. The company aims to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the global passenger aircraft market. Recently, the global aviation industry has faced numerous issues, including a shortage of aircraft and Boeing's ongoing safety crisis.

COMAC reports that it has received over 1,000 orders for the C919 to date. Three major state-owned airlines in China have each placed orders for 100 aircraft. The C919 can carry up to 192 passengers, competing in the same segment as the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A320neo.

This year, COMAC has been actively producing and promoting its products abroad, particularly in Southeast Asia and Saudi Arabia. The company is also developing wide-body aircraft.

Last month, Zhongtai Securities forecasted that by 2030, COMAC could produce 100 aircraft annually. By 2035, they could deliver over 1,000 units. In comparison, Airbus delivered 735 aircraft last year.

However, Reuters cites industry sources noting that COMAC’s path to international markets remains long, especially as its aircraft have not yet been certified by the United States and the European Union (EU).

In May, aviation consultancy Cirium estimated that by 2042, COMAC could deliver around 1,700 C919 aircraft, capturing a 25% global market share, behind Boeing (30%) and Airbus (45%).

Source: VNExpress - Ha Thu (via Reuters)