COMAC: China’s Airbus & Boeing Rival Takes Flight

China’s state-owned aerospace company COMAC is working to challenge the long-standing dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the global aviation industry by accelerating the development and production of commercial aircraft.

COMAC’s C919 Aims to Compete with Airbus and Boeing

At the center of this effort is the C919, COMAC’s flagship passenger jet. The aircraft recently completed its first flight outside of China, traveling to Singapore, as the company positions it as a competitor to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

The C919 is designed to seat between 158 and 192 passengers and has a range of approximately 2,530 to 3,450 miles. COMAC states that it is the first large passenger jet independently developed in China “in accordance with international airworthiness standards and with fully independent intellectual property rights.”

“COMAC will be a global competitor — but it will take time”

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), believes COMAC’s rise is inevitable, though it will be a gradual process. “Over time, COMAC will become a global competitor… but it will take time,” Walsh said. “I think in 10 or 15 years we’ll be talking about Boeing, Airbus, and COMAC. They’ll definitely be a major player in the future.”

Airlines in Asia are facing pressure due to urgent needs for new aircraft, while Boeing and Airbus are experiencing delays in deliveries. “It’s incredibly frustrating for airlines,” Walsh noted. “The wait time between placing an order and receiving the aircraft is about seven years.”

A Supply Chain Dominated by Two Giants

Subhas Menon, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), highlighted a structural issue within the industry. “We need more suppliers in the supply chain,” he said. “The problem in this industry is that the supply chain is an oligopoly — and sometimes even a duopoly.”

With increasing demand and mounting delivery delays, COMAC’s emergence is occurring at a critical time for airlines in the region.