China aims high with homegrown C919 jet

SINGAPORE — China’s C919 singleaisle jet made its international debut at the Singapore Airshow, attracting masses of visitors and hundreds of orders, but analysts say it still has a long way to go before it can compete with Boeing and Airbus.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China — known as COMAC — has received more than 1,000 orders for the jet, mostly from Chinese airlines. A lack of international certification means the aircraft cannot operate commercially in most countries unless they recognize certifications by China’s civil aviation regulator.

Over the course of last week’s airshow, which drew nearly 120,000 trade and public visitors, the C919 performed fly-pasts, allowing visitors to see the jet in action. Its only previous foray outside mainland China was to Hong Kong in December.

“It’s quite symbolic and a major milestone in that push by China to become considered, alongside Airbus and Boeing, for commercial aircrafts,” said Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst based in Singapore.

Another aspect that COMAC needs to work on before its jets can become serious contenders alongside the market-leading Airbus A320neo and Boeing’s 737 Max narrow-body airliners is building up a reliable distribution system and market support services for its aircraft.

COMAC declined to make its executives available for an interview.

COMAC also faces supply-chain challenges similar to those of Boeing and Airbus, which have backlogs of thousands of aircraft yet to be delivered. While the C919 is designed in China, much of its technology and many of its parts are from foreign suppliers. Its engine, for example, is made by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran Aircraft Engines.

However, COMAC has the luxury of a wide talent pool from China, said Mabel Kwan, managing director at consultancy Alton Aviation, and this may allow the firm to eventually develop more homegrown technology and parts for use in its aircraft.