Is COMAC a threat to Boeing and Airbus?
Comac, China’s state-owned planemaker, has huge ambitions to disrupt Boeing and Airbus’ hold on aviation. Its main plane, the C919, is a direct competitor to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. While it faces obstacles like tariffs, many industry leaders see Comac as a major threat. The Comac C929 is a long-range 250-to-320-seat wide-body twinjet airliner being developed by China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer Comac as a competitor to the Airbus A330neo and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.Dubai: China’s Comac (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) is the country’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer that aims to rival aviation giants Airbus and Boeing in the global airliner market.Air China first customer for COMAC’s C929 widebody. Air China has been named as the launch customer for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China’s (COMAC) C929 wide-body aircraft.COMAC’s C919 made its first commercial flight in May 2023 after 15 years of development, challenging the Airbus-Boeing duopoly. The aircraft relies heavily on Western suppliers (CFM engines, Honeywell, Collins) despite Chinese branding.COMAC’S EXPANSION Chinese-backed GallopAir, based in Brunei, has a US$2 billion deal to buy 30 COMAC aircraft, including the single-aisle C919 jet.
How many COMAC planes are currently flying?
There are 210 Comac C909 aircraft in active service as of March 2026 . SINGAPORE—Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines are expecting a combined 33 Comac C919 deliveries in 2026, which would be a significant increase on the 15 aircraft the state-owned carriers received in 2025.
Which airlines use COMAC?
COMAC has delivered nine C919 aircraft to three Chinese airlines. China Southern and Air China received their first C919 aircraft in Shanghai on Aug. China Eastern Airlines, the launch customer for the C919, has reported consistent operational performance with seven C919 aircraft since May 28, 2023. One booth is drawing particular attention: Comac, China’s state-owned planemaker, which has made significant strides since its C919 passenger jet flew to Singapore in its first trip outside of Chinese territory two years ago.The C919, which took its maiden flight in 2017, has operated with Chinese domestic airlines since May 2023, with China Eastern Airlines as the launch customer. It flew outside mainland China for the first time in 2024 on a Hong Kong charter flight.Currently, just Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines operate the type; other carriers such as Garuda Indonesia, AirAsia, AirBorneo, Air Karachi, and even European low-cost-carrier Ryanair have hinted at ordering the aircraft.