https://www.scmp.com/rss/517953/feed The latest news, analysis and opinion on Comac. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Vietnamese budget carrier VietJet Air has agreed to lease as many as 10 Chinese-made C909 regional passenger jets, giving a lift to their manufacturer’s goal of vying with Airbus and Boeing in overseas civil aviation. VietJet said in a statement on Thursday night it had agreed with SPDB Financial Leasing, a subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank in China, to finance the aircraft through operating leases. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) makes the jets that are the subject... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350431/vietnamese-airline-lease-10-c909-jets-boost-chinese-aircraft-maker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350431/vietnamese-airline-lease-10-c909-jets-boost-chinese-aircraft-maker?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:00:31 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s aviation authorities have mobilised a range of resources to support European certification of the C919, the home-grown airliner aiming to take on Boeing and Airbus, with steady progress made in recent months, multiple sources said. Technicians and pilots from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have set up shop in Shanghai for more checks and in-flight tests in recent months, according to a source who took part in some technological exchanges with the agency. “They now stay... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349669/eu-tests-chinas-c919-speed-pilots-stay-shanghai-permanently-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349669/eu-tests-chinas-c919-speed-pilots-stay-shanghai-permanently-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s leading planemaker is seeking to replicate the C909 regional airliner’s success in Laos, drawing on the experience as it steps up its sales pitch in Southeast Asia – a vital step in its effort to eventually rival Boeing and Airbus. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has ambitious plans in the region and beyond and is laying the groundwork through technical adjustments and regulatory adaptations, according to a company document seen by the South China Morning Post. To... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346906/china-adapts-c909-jet-operations-laos-blueprint-southeast-asia-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346906/china-adapts-c909-jet-operations-laos-blueprint-southeast-asia-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing aims to accelerate the rise of China’s home-grown airliner fleet, including the C909 regional plane, C919 narrowbody and C929 widebody, through 2030. This push to challenge the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus comes as a national five-year plan calls for aircraft production, development and the roll-out of a domestically developed engine. The next five years will prove vital to the success of the three aircraft models and the continued localisation of critical parts such as engines,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346236/chinas-five-year-jet-goals-target-c919-output-new-engine-and-reduced-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346236/chinas-five-year-jet-goals-target-c919-output-new-engine-and-reduced-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings China’s leading planemaker is redoubling its efforts to boost the international profile of its home-grown jets in 2026, injecting a sizeable amount of capital into a subsidiary carrier as it attempts to widen its planes’ coverage area and attract more overseas buyers. The state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), manufacturer of the C909 regional airliner and the company’s flagship narrowbody C919, recently infused 634 million yuan (US$91.76 million) into C909 launch customer... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344157/chinas-c909-jet-gets-international-uplift-funding-adoptive-airline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344157/chinas-c909-jet-gets-international-uplift-funding-adoptive-airline?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen The maker of China’s expanding family of civilian aircraft has announced new orders for a regional jet and secured a crucial “brain” for its ambitious C929 widebody jet, coinciding with the Singapore Airshow. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) said on Tuesday that it signed a letter of intent for cooperation with Aviage Systems for the C929’s core avionics processing system, according to a Yicai news report. Avionics refer to an aircraft’s electronic systems, including... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342392/new-brainer-chinas-c929-widebody-lands-partner-power-next-gen-flight-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342392/new-brainer-chinas-c929-widebody-lands-partner-power-next-gen-flight-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:16:39 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s civil aviation authority has floated a regulatory change that would allow its home-grown passenger jet, the C919, to use narrow runways typically found in smaller airports, a move that could help the plane expand its presence at home and break into the Southeast Asian market. The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced on Friday that it had set “special conditions” for the C919 to use narrow runways based on the jet’s design features, releasing a draft proposal for a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342252/china-plans-regulatory-change-help-c919-jet-compete-airbus-and-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342252/china-plans-regulatory-change-help-c919-jet-compete-airbus-and-boeing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:01:30 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings China’s chief builder of commercial aircraft is displaying its full product line – including its home-grown narrowbody C919 as well as a full surgical cabin on board its regional jet – at the Singapore Airshow as it seeks to widen its footprint in Southeast Asia. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has “set up” a C919 at the twice-yearly expo for a fly-by demonstration, according to independent aviation analyst Li Hanming. The show began on Tuesday and is set to run for six... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342150/chinas-c919-lift-again-singapore-airshow-bid-asean-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342150/chinas-c919-lift-again-singapore-airshow-bid-asean-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is revving up the design and testing phase of its widebody C929 airliner, marshalling its resources and mobilising its stakeholders to roll out the indigenous jet on schedule – or, potentially, ahead of earlier estimates. Specialists from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) have proactively involved themselves in the C929’s development, the South China Morning Post has learned, with personnel from the national regulator assessing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342069/chinas-widebody-c929-could-arrive-early-revved-development-plan-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342069/chinas-widebody-c929-could-arrive-early-revved-development-plan-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s leading planemaker is poised for a moderate ramping up of production and deliveries of its C919 narrowbody jet this year, aiming for 28 units or more, with two having already rolled off the production line just three weeks into the new year, according to sources and an industry analyst. While setbacks forced Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) to cut back on its delivery targets last year, a manager briefed on the state-owned giant’s plans said it expected supply chain... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341030/maker-chinas-c919-jet-set-pick-production-pace-after-delay-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3341030/maker-chinas-c919-jet-set-pick-production-pace-after-delay-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen European aviation evaluators have begun test flights of China’s home-grown C919 airliner in Shanghai, the Post has learned, as the manufacturer of the narrowbody jet presses ahead with its bid to secure Western safety certification – a crucial step in the journey to global adoption and being able to compete with industry leaders Boeing and Airbus. Two test pilots from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have conducted verification flights, according to a source with knowledge of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339945/chinas-c919-airliner-put-through-paces-test-pilots-european-aviation-regulator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339945/chinas-c919-airliner-put-through-paces-test-pilots-european-aviation-regulator?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s state-owned planemaker intends to supersize its flagship jet through a partnership with a major domestic carrier to meet rising market demand for bigger narrowbody types, according to sources. The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines last week to deepen cooperation, including on a stretched variant of the single-aisle C919 that would be able to seat at least 200 passengers, the Post has learned. The deal positions China Eastern, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337728/chinas-c919-maker-teams-china-eastern-bigger-variant-cards-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s top aircraft maker is stepping up efforts to promote its first business jet as it looks to break into a market dominated by Western aviation firms like Gulfstream Aerospace. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) took the rare step of showcasing a completed version of the model – called the Comac Business Jet, or CBJ – at an exhibition in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou in October. The move signalled the state-owned company was “seeking to break into the large-cabin... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335352/chinese-home-grown-business-jet-way-will-it-rival-gulfstream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335352/chinese-home-grown-business-jet-way-will-it-rival-gulfstream?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 03:00:19 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on November 30, 2015. By Sijia Jiang After 13 years, China’s own passenger jet enters service China’s ambition of an indigenous plane took wings on Sunday (November 29, 2015) as its first home-grown passenger jet, the Comac ARJ21 (later rebranded as the C909), entered commercial service after 13 years in the making. Configured with 90 economy-class seats, the jet was delivered to its launch customer, Chengdu Airlines, from Comac’s Shanghai factory and flown to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3333513/chinas-first-home-grown-passenger-jet-comac-arj21-debuts-2015-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3333513/chinas-first-home-grown-passenger-jet-comac-arj21-debuts-2015-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 05:30:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s leading aircraft manufacturer, determined to carve out a share of the lucrative but technologically complex civil aviation market, has obtained a timely round of financial support from its state backers, greatly expanding its registered capital as the firm aims to overcome a production bottleneck and remount its challenge to the Boeing and Airbus duopoly. As competition from the two Western giants for contracts heats up amid a supply chain crunch that has slowed turnaround rates for the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334094/maker-chinas-c919-receives-massive-capital-injection-amid-supply-chain-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334094/maker-chinas-c919-receives-massive-capital-injection-amid-supply-chain-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:27 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has launched a clean surgical cabin for its C909 narrowbody jet – an innovation the manufacturer touts as the first of its kind, and one that could expand access to complex medical procedures in the country's most remote and underserved regions. The upgrade advances the airborne hospital concept from in-flight diagnosis to genuine surgical capability, broadening the jet’s commercial applications, according to official media. The cabin is a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334082/chinas-comac-debuts-c909-surgical-cabin-expand-flying-hospitals-remote-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334082/chinas-comac-debuts-c909-surgical-cabin-expand-flying-hospitals-remote-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:31 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Brunei has officially adopted China’s civil aviation certification standards, easing access for Chinese-built aircraft such as the narrowbody C919 jet into the wealthy Southeast Asian market while serving as a potential model for how the planes could expand their international reach. Brunei accepted the airworthiness code of the Civil Aviation Administration of China earlier this month, the Chinese embassy in Brunei said on Monday on its website, citing the equatorial country’s Department of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330920/international-win-chinas-c919-brunei-accepts-chinese-aviation-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330920/international-win-chinas-c919-brunei-accepts-chinese-aviation-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s passenger jet manufacturer will make its Dubai Airshow debut next month, when it is likely to scout for buyers of its small C909 and narrowbody C919 aircraft in the Middle East. The air show’s website lists Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) among its 1,500 exhibitors, and analysts said the Shanghai-based, state-owned planemaker’s participation at the event from November 17 to 21 would mark a first for the company. Comac has been looking for overseas buyers of its older,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330179/maker-chinas-c919-jet-visit-dubai-airshow-scout-middle-eastern-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330179/maker-chinas-c919-jet-visit-dubai-airshow-scout-middle-eastern-buyers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings Frank Chen,Ralph Jennings The delivery delays appearing to hit China’s C919 – the home-grown narrowbody jet intended to compete with leading Western models – may lead some domestic carriers to consider more orders with US aerospace giant Boeing, industry insiders said. With financial reports from major airlines suggesting C919 units have not been arriving as scheduled, manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) may lose a share of its home market to its American rival, they said, despite the safety... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327787/chinas-c919-jet-facing-order-delays-boeing-waiting-wings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Deliveries of China’s first narrowbody passenger jet to the top three domestic airlines could be falling behind schedule, according to company financial reports, raising market speculation regarding potential disruptions to the model’s engine supply. Air China and China Eastern Airlines received one C919 aircraft each in the first half of the year despite their stated goals of adding 10 apiece in 2025, according to the reports. China Southern Airlines’ reports said the carrier expects 12 of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327021/orders-chinas-c919-jet-could-face-delays-over-engine-supply-snags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 02:00:20 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke has called on the Chinese state-owned maker of the C919 passenger jet to set its sights on the global market and be more aggressive in boosting its international standing, as AirAsia nears a deal to become its first foreign buyer. Loke made the comments on Wednesday while speaking at a Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and Macau (Maycham) event, where he outlined a series of updates on his country’s transport industry – from air travel to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325188/malaysia-calls-china-push-c919-jet-globally-airasia-circles-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325188/malaysia-calls-china-push-c919-jet-globally-airasia-circles-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:30:13 +0000 Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Kandy Wong,Ralph Jennings Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia has shown strong interest in acquiring the Chinese C919 passenger jet, its executive said, as part of its strategy to tap into Southeast Asia’s 700 million-strong population and capitalise on growing China-Asean business ties. “We’re in active discussions to buy the C919,” Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A – an investment holding company of AirAsia – told the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on Wednesday. “We’re the first foreign airline to be working with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325061/china-eyes-c919-jet-breakthrough-malaysian-airline-confirms-talks-buy-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325061/china-eyes-c919-jet-breakthrough-malaysian-airline-confirms-talks-buy-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘It’s hard to succeed’: US firms in China report record pessimism amid tensions American companies doing business in China are more pessimistic about the next five years than ever before, in the face of rising geopolitical uncertainties, fierce competition and a chronic economic slowdown, according to findings by a prominent business chamber. 2. China’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3325072/us-firms-china-report-record-pessimism-brain-ai-unveiled-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3325072/us-firms-china-report-record-pessimism-brain-ai-unveiled-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:15:09 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Chinese-made aircraft are set to spread their wings further in Southeast Asia after Air Cambodia announced what could become the largest ever overseas order for C909 passenger jets. The airline has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) for 10 of the jets, with the option to buy 10 more. “The two sides will closely cooperate on aircraft introduction, operational support and industry development,” according to an online statement by Comac,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325014/chinas-comac-wins-one-its-biggest-overseas-orders-c909-jets-cambodia-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325014/chinas-comac-wins-one-its-biggest-overseas-orders-c909-jets-cambodia-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:30:09 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun While its home-grown airliners bring China the most attention in the complex, lucrative field of aviation, the country is also making strides in an equally important realm: the many components necessary to ensure the safe, smooth operation of jets and other aircraft. Recent developments in a number of areas show Beijing is continuing to reduce its reliance on foreign parts, close long-standing technological gaps and assert itself as a major player in civil aviation at all levels of the supply... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320682/nose-tail-how-china-reshaping-aviation-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320682/nose-tail-how-china-reshaping-aviation-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:00:35 +0000 Amy Chew Amy Chew Growing air travel in Southeast Asia and backlogs in Airbus and Boeing deliveries are driving regional interest in China’s C919 passenger jet, according to Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke. China is promoting aircraft made by Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) – including the C919, the country’s first home-grown narrowbody airliner – as cheaper alternatives to aircraft manufactured by Airbus and Boeing. Loke told the Post recently that Malaysian budget... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320247/malaysian-airlines-interested-chinas-c919-jet-countrys-transport-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320247/malaysian-airlines-interested-chinas-c919-jet-countrys-transport-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang This is the third story in a three-part series exploring how China is betting on regional hubs to counter global trade risks and reshape its economy. In this piece, we focus on Guizhou’s transformation from one of China’s poorest provinces into a strategic pillar of trade war resilience. The 2025 trade war launched by the United States is shaping up to become a watershed moment for Chinese policymakers. While the country’s economic resilience and role at the centre of global supply chains helped... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317235/chinas-trade-war-strategy-bet-guizhou-long-one-its-poorest-provinces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317235/chinas-trade-war-strategy-bet-guizhou-long-one-its-poorest-provinces?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 22:00:15 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is expected to sustain production of its home-grown aircraft and expand access to foreign skies, following the United States’ removal of a ban on selling American jet engine parts and technology to Chinese buyers. But analysts cautioned that earlier export restrictions imposed by the Trump administration had a chilling effect – one that could harden Beijing’s resolve to accelerate the development of indigenous engines and other critical components. Sales resumed last week after a bilateral... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317198/china-us-jet-engine-deal-boost-c919-production-comacs-eu-market-ambitions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317198/china-us-jet-engine-deal-boost-c919-production-comacs-eu-market-ambitions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China may be on the verge of placing another lucrative order with European aerospace giant Airbus, potentially for at least 100 to 200 new aircraft – even as some Chinese airlines remain heavily reliant on US rival Boeing’s jets. Europe has emerged as China’s go-to source for overseas commercial aircraft in recent years. Boeing, once a major supplier, has not secured a major order from China since 2017 – casting a shadow over its future in the world’s second-largest economy amid turbulent trade... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316476/china-edges-closer-airbus-mega-deal-leaving-boeing-out-cold-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316476/china-edges-closer-airbus-mega-deal-leaving-boeing-out-cold-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:00:07 +0000 Tang Meng Kit Tang Meng Kit China’s development of its first widebody passenger jet represents its ambition to compete globally. But lifting the C929 off the ground will require more than just advanced engineering. Supply chain resilience, talent development and global trust will determine if the programme can truly fly. The home-grown C929, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) and expected to carry up to 440 passengers with a range of 12,000km, is looking to rival the Airbus A350 and Boeing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3315986/rival-boeing-and-airbus-chinas-c929-needs-more-top-engineering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3315986/rival-boeing-and-airbus-chinas-c929-needs-more-top-engineering?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen The C919, China’s first indigenous narrowbody jet, embodies Beijing’s progress in pursuing technology self-sufficiency and holds the potential to reshape the global aviation market, but it faces a host of difficulties in challenging established giants Boeing and Airbus. In the latest China Future Tech webinar, Jason Li Hanming, a US-based aviation analyst, along with SCMP reporters Frank Chen, William Zheng and moderator Ralph Jennings, discussed questions surrounding the home-grown Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3315984/chinas-aviation-ambitions-experts-discuss-c919s-global-aspirations-and-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3315984/chinas-aviation-ambitions-experts-discuss-c919s-global-aspirations-and-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:26:34 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow China’s technology ambitions, trade tensions and geopolitical concerns were all on display in Paris as the aerospace industry gathered for the French capital’s 55th air show. Planemaker Comac told partners that the C929, China’s first widebody passenger plane, should make its maiden commercial flight by 2035, the Post reported. The number of Chinese parts makers at the show also surged to 76 from 29 at the previous edition in 2023, reflecting the growth of the nation’s aerospace supply... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3315164/chinas-aerospace-drive-summer-davos-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3315164/chinas-aerospace-drive-summer-davos-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:02:34 +0000 Frank Chen,Xiaofei Xu Frank Chen,Xiaofei Xu The company developing China’s first home-grown widebody passenger jet – the C929 – is aiming to see it make its maiden commercial flight by 2035, foreign partners have been told at this week’s Paris Air Show, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The time frame, although longer than previous estimates, was in line with the “long-haul” one that Boeing and Airbus used when developing their first widebodies and reflected Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China’s (Comac) “prudence”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315051/chinas-c929-widebody-passenger-jet-make-maiden-commercial-flight-2035-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315051/chinas-c929-widebody-passenger-jet-make-maiden-commercial-flight-2035-source?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 08:30:10 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China may offer to play ‘constructive’ role in mediating Iran-Israel conflict China is expected to play an “active” role in trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but analysts warned there may be limits to what it could achieve. 2. After tight-lipped talks in London, the US-China silence speaks volumes A week after the second round of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3314939/chinas-possible-israel-iran-peace-role-robot-firms-big-salaries-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3314939/chinas-possible-israel-iran-peace-role-robot-firms-big-salaries-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:15:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen President Xi Jinping made clear the importance of China having its own large aeroplane in 2014, when he visited a Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) factory and sat in the cockpit of a prototype airliner. “A large aeroplane is the dream of several generations of Chinese,” he said at the state-run plant in Shanghai. “The ability to develop and make a large aeroplane represents the strength of a country’s aerospace industry.” China belatedly reached its goal in 2017, when the C919... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3314916/chinas-passenger-jet-ambitions-hit-trade-war-turbulence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3314916/chinas-passenger-jet-ambitions-hit-trade-war-turbulence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:18:51 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s presence at the Paris Air Show – the globally renowned civil aviation expo – is usually reduced to Beijing’s biggest names in the field. In particular, conversation tends to focus on the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the maker of the C919 passenger jet. But things have changed this year. Dozens of lesser-known Chinese firms from across the supply chain have flocked to the European capital to showcase their products to Western buyers. The number of Chinese companies... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314894/paris-air-show-chinas-aviation-suppliers-circle-landing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314894/paris-air-show-chinas-aviation-suppliers-circle-landing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:14 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ralph Jennings Xiaofei Xu,Ralph Jennings China’s chief civilian aircraft maker has secured deals to buy Western-made parts for its first widebody jet – expected to resemble the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 series – despite ongoing turbulence in trade and supply chains. The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) reached an agreement to work with French aerospace firm Safran on the development of the widebody C929’s brake controls, ice detection system, tyre pressure indicators and on-board oxygen system, according to reports... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314792/chinas-c929-jet-secures-western-tech-manufacturer-signs-parts-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314792/chinas-c929-jet-secures-western-tech-manufacturer-signs-parts-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 12:30:12 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Elephants trampling on global trade’: EU sidelined by US-China showdown Over two rounds of high-stakes talks on European soil, Europe has watched from the sidelines as the US and China tried to reach a truce that might stabilise the global trading system on which the continent is entirely reliant. 2. Chinese citizens in Iran, Israel need to prepare for... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3314385/eu-sidelined-us-china-showdown-moutai-faces-sobering-reality-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3314385/eu-sidelined-us-china-showdown-moutai-faces-sobering-reality-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:30:07 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has reportedly bid to take a majority stake in the flag carrier of Laos, as the state-owned Chinese aviation firm continues its push to expand its market in Southeast Asia. The deal – which is pending approval by the Lao authorities – would see Comac help Lao Airlines overhaul its operations and stem its losses in exchange for the carrier agreeing to use the Chinese company’s passenger jets, Vientiane Times quoted Prime Minister Sonexay... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314303/china-steps-global-aviation-expansion-comac-bids-laos-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314303/china-steps-global-aviation-expansion-comac-bids-laos-carrier?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 07:32:56 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China will push for civil aviation to be a topic of discussion at a summit with European Union leaders in July, with particular focus on the certification of the domestically produced C919 aircraft, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. High-level negotiations on the safety evaluation process would be likely to fast-track ratification of the airliner, the source said, and a rumoured order of hundreds of Airbus aircraft from Beijing would only help speed things along. Next month’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3313955/china-working-add-c919-certification-agenda-july-eu-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3313955/china-working-add-c919-certification-agenda-july-eu-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 08:00:08 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao We’ve updated this FactSheet to reflect the latest developments related to China’s C919 passenger jet. To view the earlier version, which covered data up to May 2024, please follow this link. https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3313814/chinas-c919-passenger-jet-celebrating-two-years-commercial-flights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3313814/chinas-c919-passenger-jet-celebrating-two-years-commercial-flights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:51:44 +0000 SCMP SCMP Date and time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 10.30-11.30am HKT Add to calendar: iOS | Android | Outlook The webinar will be live-streamed on this page on June 26, 2025, at 10.30am HKT. Bookmark this page or add it to your calendar to stay informed. China’s aerospace ambitions are taking flight, with the homegrown C919 narrow-body jet expanding commercial operations and plans for the wide-body C929 aircraft under way. This ascent, spearheaded by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3313678/china-future-tech-webinar-how-chinas-aerospace-rise-reshaping-global-skies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3313678/china-future-tech-webinar-how-chinas-aerospace-rise-reshaping-global-skies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:07:15 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China has granted approval for the country’s first home-grown 1,000-kilowatt helicopter engine to begin mass production, as Beijing doubles down on its aviation ambitions in defiance of US efforts to restrict its access to key technologies. The engine, named the AES100, was granted a production licence by Chinese authorities on Thursday, “laying a solid foundation for its market launch”, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The move comes just days after Washington announced a new round of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3313180/china-hails-new-helicopter-engine-milestone-its-aviation-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3313180/china-hails-new-helicopter-engine-milestone-its-aviation-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Boeing expects Chinese airlines to resume orders that were paused during the trade war with the United States, but analysts warn supply chain constraints and tariff uncertainties could slow actual deliveries. Kelly Ortberg, CEO of the American aircraft giant, said Chinese airlines have confirmed they would begin taking deliveries of Boeing planes this month after Beijing and Washington agreed to a 90-day trade truce in May. In April, Ortberg was quoted as saying that deliveries to China had been... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312763/boeings-china-hopes-face-trade-war-headwinds-supply-chain-risks-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312763/boeings-china-hopes-face-trade-war-headwinds-supply-chain-risks-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen Ralph Jennings,Frank Chen Washington’s technology-export restrictions targeting Chinese plane makers this week will delay China’s jet engine indigenisation process in the near term, but any setback will only harden resolve in Beijing for tech self-reliance to test and launch a home-grown engine, analysts said on Friday. United States officials have reportedly suspended some sales of technologies linked to jet engines that could be built for Chinese state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China’s (Comac) civilian... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3312505/us-export-controls-delay-not-grounding-chinas-aircraft-engines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3312505/us-export-controls-delay-not-grounding-chinas-aircraft-engines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 14:30:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Economic tensions between the US and China are rising under the weight of tariffs and spreading into areas where it is harder to reach a consensus – namely, advanced technology – analysts say in the wake of Washington’s reported moves to pause exports of products and technologies related to semiconductor design and jet-engine manufacturing to China. The US Department of Commerce has told American electronic design automation firms – including Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens EDA – to stop supplying... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3312337/rising-us-china-tensions-target-tech-was-geneva-deal-just-flash-pan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3312337/rising-us-china-tensions-target-tech-was-geneva-deal-just-flash-pan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 14:30:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Despite recent tariff cuts, remaining duties on imports from the US could force Chinese buyers of Boeing jets to pay millions of US dollars more than before and, along with worldwide delivery delays, contribute to a sharp slowdown in the growth of China’s aviation capacity, analysts said. Held back by tariffs and global supply chain constraints, China’s civil aviation passenger capacity is likely to grow by an average of 3.1 per cent a year until 2028, analysts at China International Capital... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312216/trade-turbulence-slow-chinese-airlines-growth-add-boeing-delays-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312216/trade-turbulence-slow-chinese-airlines-growth-add-boeing-delays-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 03:05:16 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The C919, China’s indigenous narrowbody airliner that epitomises Beijing’s sky-high tech aspirations, will enter its third year of commercial operations next week – a feat marked by ratcheted-up services and an expanding network. And in the lead-up to the anniversary, China’s southern economic and tech powerhouse of Shenzhen, along with the popular tourist city of Xiamen in southeastern Fujian province, have become the latest additions to the C919’s network since last week, bringing the total... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311040/chinas-c919-network-spans-16-cities-2-year-mark-reflects-reliability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311040/chinas-c919-network-spans-16-cities-2-year-mark-reflects-reliability?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 01:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Xiaofei Xu Ralph Jennings,Xiaofei Xu As China continues to promote its home-grown C919 passenger plane to overseas markets – and builds a name for the jet in Southeast Asia – it could take longer than expected for the aircraft to receive a coveted endorsement from the European Union’s safety regulator. In remarks published by French magazine L’Usine Nouvelle on Monday, Florian Guillermet, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), said certification for the narrowbody C919 – essential for the sale of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3308546/chinas-c919-stuck-tarmac-europe-certification-timeline-extended?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3308546/chinas-c919-stuck-tarmac-europe-certification-timeline-extended?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 May 2025 01:00:13 +0000 In the midst of trade upheaval, Boeing’s customers in China have “indicated that they will not take delivery” on up to 50 planes that were earmarked for the Chinese market this year, according to the US aerospace giant’s CEO. And the situation in China “will take away some of the headroom we’ve built with our strong first-quarter deliveries”, Kelly Ortberg said during Boeing’s latest earnings call. The executive’s acknowledgement this week of trouble in China shows that the heightened trade war... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3307772/sky-high-us-tariffs-hit-boeing-chinese-airliners-and-chinas-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3307772/sky-high-us-tariffs-hit-boeing-chinese-airliners-and-chinas-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:00:12 +0000