What to know about the C919, the first airliner in Chinese service that wants to compete with Airbus and Boeing

This is a real turning point for the Chinese air transport sector. It is above all the desire to compete with international competition, Airbus and Boeing in the first place. The first Chinese-designed airliner, the C919, completed its maiden commercial flight on Sunday. The machine intends to eventually take over from the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 MAX. Airbus and Boeing now occupy 98% of the Chinese market. In the future, most passengers will be able to choose to travel on large Chinese-designed aircraft.

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China is seeking to become self-sufficient in the technology sector and has invested heavily in the production of this first airliner: it is built by the state-owned company Comac, although many parts come from abroad. The aircraft can carry 164 passengers and is intended primarily for national companies such as China Eastern Airlines, as it does not benefit from the approval of international air authorities. For now, it can therefore only fly in Chinese airspace.

Production capacities

According to the public company that builds the device, and totally dependent on the power in place in Beijing, the order book is already full of 1,200 devices. The state manufacturer plans to increase its production capacity to 150 models per year in the next five years. The European manufacturer and its American competitor are seeking to take advantage of the growing demand for travel from the emancipating Chinese middle class.

The reaction is the announcement of an increase in production capacity in the former Middle Kingdom. Airbus will double its capacity. The group has signed an agreement with the local authorities to build a second A320 assembly line in Tjianjin (northeast China). For now, four A320s are produced there each month. China now accounts for 20% of global air traffic and is growing by more than 5% per year. It is a huge playground for aircraft manufacturers.