China’s domestic passenger jet set to challenge Boeing, Airbus competition
China's domestically produced C919 passenger jet on display at a manufacturing facility. (AA Photo)
C919, a Chinese-made aircraft operated its first flight to Hong Kong, implying China’s ambition to challenge Boeing and Airbus competition.
According to a report by Chinese media outlet Xinhua, a China Eastern Airlines flight (MU721) operated by a domestically manufactured C919 aircraft departed from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport this morning and successfully landed at Hong Kong International Airport.
The C919, developed by China’s state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), was first delivered on Dec. 9, 2022. Its maiden commercial flight was conducted between Shanghai and Beijing on May 28, 2023.
The widespread use of the C919 on domestic routes is seen as a significant step toward its acceptance in the global aviation market.
3 major airlines using the C919
China’s three largest airlines currently operate 14 C919 aircraft on domestic routes.
China Eastern Airlines, with a fleet of nine C919s, operates regular flights connecting Shanghai with Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Xian and Taiyuan. China Southern Airlines deploys its three C919 aircraft on routes between Guangzhou and Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Haikou.
Air China uses its two C919 planes for flights between Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Hangzhou.
A competitor to Boeing and Airbus
The C919, China’s first domestically produced narrow-body passenger jet, is positioned as a competitor to Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320 models. These single-aisle aircraft are among the most widely used in the global civil aviation sector.
With the introduction of the C919, China aims to challenge the dominance of U.S.-based Boeing and Europe’s Airbus in the passenger aircraft market.
Industry analysts view the development as a strategic move to reduce reliance on foreign aviation giants.
Although the C919 is assembled in China, critical components such as its jet engines and flight control systems are supplied by major U.S. companies like General Electric and Honeywell, making the aircraft not entirely indigenous.
COMAC, which began developing the C919 in 2008, is also working on the “C929,” a long-range passenger jet intended to complement its existing short- and medium-haul models.
By expanding its portfolio, China aims to secure a foothold in the competitive global aviation industry.
