https://www.scmp.com/rss/519757/feed Track China’s ambitious aerospace advancements, from the home-grown commercial aircraft to space exploration, and their global impact. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Airbus secured an order for 137 A320neo jets from Chinese airlines, extending the European company’s edge in one of aviation’s most contested markets as US rival Boeing waits on a long-speculated deal with Beijing. China Southern Airlines, one of China’s three major state-owned carriers, announced the deal on Wednesday. The airline, based in the southern city of Guangzhou, will purchase 102 aircraft, while its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines will acquire the remaining 35. The orders carry a combined... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351900/china-southern-airlines-orders-airbus-jets-worth-us21b-boeing-deal-remains-rumour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351900/china-southern-airlines-orders-airbus-jets-worth-us21b-boeing-deal-remains-rumour?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:57:06 +0000 Tang Meng Kit Tang Meng Kit The signal is clear. In the first quarter of this year, just three C919 aircraft were delivered – two to China Southern Airlines and one to Air China. For a Chinese programme expected to deliver more than 30 of these home-grown narrowbody airliners this year, the gap between ambition and reality has opened up quickly. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) delivered 15 C919s last year, far short of the target of 75 set before supply disruptions forced a reset. Even the modest reported... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350858/engine-dilemma-lies-heart-successful-take-chinas-c919?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350858/engine-dilemma-lies-heart-successful-take-chinas-c919?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Deliveries of China’s home-grown C919 narrowbody airliner, billed to challenge mainstream models from Boeing and Airbus, appear to be delayed, with only three units shipped to Chinese carriers in the first quarter of 2026. Observers point to several factors holding back the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac). While some C919s are said to be stuck on the tarmac waiting for engines, analysts also say prioritising quality over speed is the right bet for the planemaker. Only three C919... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349112/chinas-c919-sees-delivery-delays-2026-3-units-shipped-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349112/chinas-c919-sees-delivery-delays-2026-3-units-shipped-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China Eastern Airlines said on Wednesday it placed a multibillion-dollar order for 101 Airbus A320neo aircraft, marking another success for the French company after it raked in big orders from Chinese airlines in December and amid uncertainties related to a widely speculated potential deal between its rival Boeing and Beijing. While the list price of the deal would be US$15.8 billion, China Eastern said Airbus had granted it “a significant price discount” which was “more favourable than the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347905/airbus-wins-chinese-airlines-101-plane-order-victory-over-boeing-key-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347905/airbus-wins-chinese-airlines-101-plane-order-victory-over-boeing-key-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:00:43 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin Chinese researchers have proposed a semi-humanoid robot mounted on a wheeled platform as part of key infrastructure for the country’s lunar research station slated to take shape by 2035. Combining mobility with humanlike dexterity, the robot is designed to move across the lunar surface while carrying out delicate operations, from construction and maintenance to scientific experiments, sampling and analysis, according to researchers from the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering. Its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346317/weird-looking-humanoid-robot-could-help-china-conquer-moon-scientists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3346317/weird-looking-humanoid-robot-could-help-china-conquer-moon-scientists?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:00:09 +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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The global space industry has rapidly evolved from the days when nations raced to the heavens in a quest for glory. Now space is a venue for competition to forge the world’s technological future. Hong Kong must follow these developments with solid planning if it hopes to tap into the opportunities of China’s “NewSpace” ambitions. NewSpace is an emerging industry where private firms are involved with satellite manufacturing, launch services, space law, tourism and other ventures concentrated in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342632/hong-kong-need-not-wait-help-chinese-space-ambitions-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342632/hong-kong-need-not-wait-help-chinese-space-ambitions-take?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:15:15 +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 Ken Chu Ken Chu China’s commercial space sector has entered a new frontier. In January, a private Chinese aerospace company unveiled the test capsule of what is set to become the country’s first commercially developed crewed spacecraft, with plans for crewed flights by 2028 and bookings already taken from private space tourists. The project reflects a decisive shift in national policy, where commercial players are no longer peripheral participants but integral contributors to major space missions. This... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341977/china-opens-its-space-sector-hong-kong-should-reach-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341977/china-opens-its-space-sector-hong-kong-should-reach-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Frank Chen,Yeon Woo Lee Frank Chen,Yeon Woo Lee When the first cohort of elite foreign captains parachuted into Chinese airlines in the 2000s, their sky-high pay – sometimes reaching 1 million yuan a year – raised eyebrows among their Chinese counterparts. These hotshot aviators, with their international exposure and qualifications, enjoyed a stratospheric level of success in the burgeoning Chinese market. Facing a shortage of experienced pilots, Chinese carriers embraced them with open arms, granting generous benefits and speedy paths to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342101/chinas-expat-pilots-arrived-red-carpet-now-theyre-taking-red-eye-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342101/chinas-expat-pilots-arrived-red-carpet-now-theyre-taking-red-eye-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:00:08 +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 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen-3 became one of the world’s first general-purpose artificial intelligence models to be uploaded and operated in orbit, marking a milestone in China’s bid to lead the nascent space-based computing sector. Chinese aerospace start-up Adaspace Technology successfully deployed Qwen-3 to a space computing centre in orbit where it executed multiple inference tasks in November, according to company executive vice-president Wang Yabo, who spoke at a conference on Monday, as reported... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341388/alibabas-qwen-3-becomes-worlds-first-ai-model-operate-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341388/alibabas-qwen-3-becomes-worlds-first-ai-model-operate-orbit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:00:25 +0000 Victoria Bela,Stephen Chen Victoria Bela,Stephen Chen Four Chinese groups are racing to build global satellite communications infrastructure to challenge the considerable head start made by US tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink. The two leaders for China so far are the central-government-backed GuoWang and Shanghai-backed Qianfan. They have the most satellites in orbit and plans to eventually deploy more than 10,000 apiece. Carmaker Geely’s Geespace also has satellites in space. The fourth group, Hongqing Technology, 48 per cent owned by... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340638/chinese-rivals-musks-starlink-wrestle-rocket-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china-future-tech/aerospace/article/3340638/chinese-rivals-musks-starlink-wrestle-rocket-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 04:45:12 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong One of China’s latest Earth observation satellites operating in low orbit could feature an optical aperture at a two-metre scale with “global leading” remote sensing capabilities, according to a China Science Daily report on Thursday last week. The report refers to the Yaogan-47 satellite, which was launched aboard a Long March 4B carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on December 9. For comparison, the Hubble Space Telescope and likely the US KH-11 spy satellite have main... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340036/could-chinas-yaogan-47-satellite-have-lens-wide-hubble-telescope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340036/could-chinas-yaogan-47-satellite-have-lens-wide-hubble-telescope?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:14 +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 has appointed its first female pilot to exclusively captain flights on its home-grown C919 jet, with more aspiring women waiting in the wings as the nation expands its talent pool and systemically transitions elite pilots who used to fly Boeing and Airbus jets to operate the narrowbody airliner. Yu Yue, who made a high-stakes switch from her decade-long career flying the US-made Boeing 737 to be a C919 captain this year, has become a source of inspiration for many in the country. According... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3337431/soaring-top-china-appoints-first-female-captain-flights-home-grown-c919?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 06:00:09 +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 Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Ji Siqi,Kandy Wong Though it did not come as a surprise, the US’ formal ban on the sale of new drones produced by China marks a “milestone” in the two countries’ strategic competition and technological decoupling, analysts said, with their rivalry continuing across numerous fields despite the temporary trade truce agreed between their leaders in October. Washington’s telecommunications regulator said on Monday that it is adding all foreign producers of drones and critical components – including those made by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337500/bad-policy-chinas-drone-makers-shrug-us-ban-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337500/bad-policy-chinas-drone-makers-shrug-us-ban-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:08 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Jigang Group spent decades forging the metal for China’s infrastructure boom. Now, the former industrial titan is building hardware for the final frontier. The state-owned company, once one of the nation’s top steel producers, has secured orders for its first two satellites – an all-important step in its years-long transformation to capture demand in the country’s burgeoning commercial space industry. Reporting this week on the purchase, the Economic Observer said production was expected to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335364/steel-space-china-giant-sells-first-2-satellites-bold-pivot-bears-fruit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335364/steel-space-china-giant-sells-first-2-satellites-bold-pivot-bears-fruit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:45:36 +0000 Reuters Reuters Europe’s Airbus said on Friday it was ordering immediate repairs to 6,000 of its widely used A320 family of jets in a sweeping recall affecting more than half the global fleet, threatening upheaval during the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States and disruption worldwide. The setback appears to be among the largest recalls affecting Airbus in its 55-year history and comes weeks after the A320 overtook the Boeing 737 as the most delivered model. At the time Airbus issued its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3334593/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-threatening-global-flight-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3334593/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-threatening-global-flight-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:13:25 +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 Frank Chen Frank Chen As companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin make headlines for sending non-astronauts into space on pricey private tours, a Chinese state firm is expected to unveil its own space tourism programme this week, joining other domestic enterprises as they attempt to make headway in the rapidly emerging – and US-dominated – market. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), the primary contractor for the country's space programme, will unveil details of its inaugural tour at the China Hi-tech... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332658/chinas-chief-space-contractor-readies-plans-tourism-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332658/chinas-chief-space-contractor-readies-plans-tourism-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:20 +0000 Paul Buck Paul Buck Elon Musk’s SpaceX faces a looming challenge from China as the nation’s space industry races to develop reusable rockets. At least seven Chinese start-ups and two state-owned developers are preparing to blast reusable rockets into orbit, posing a potential threat to SpaceX’s dominant grip on the commercial satellite launch market. The Musk company ushered in the reusable rocket era a decade ago by successfully returning a Falcon 9 rocket stage to the launch site. Reusable rockets are key to... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332607/musks-spacex-faces-china-threat-reusable-rocket-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3332607/musks-spacex-faces-china-threat-reusable-rocket-race?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:20:10 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The manufacturer of China’s home-grown passenger jets is ramping up efforts to secure Western-made engines as its aircraft production slumps and rivals race for scarce components amid a supply crunch afflicting the global aviation industry. By dispatching teams to key overseas suppliers, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is seeking to smooth out communication and secure delivery of more Leap-1C engines, according to two people with knowledge of the trips. And as the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332368/c919-output-falters-chinas-comac-scrambles-western-engines-amid-global-bottleneck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3332368/c919-output-falters-chinas-comac-scrambles-western-engines-amid-global-bottleneck?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:00:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Uspace Technology Group will set up an artificial intelligence application technology centre in Shenzhen, as the satellite manufacturer realigns its space business after moving its headquarters from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province. A unit of Uspace, Gang Hang Ke, will spearhead the centre’s establishment, the company said in a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Monday evening. It said the new facility will focus on intelligent decision-making for satellite... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3331382/satellite-maker-uspace-pivots-ai-applications-new-tech-centre-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3331382/satellite-maker-uspace-pivots-ai-applications-new-tech-centre-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:30:07 +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 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 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 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 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has issued a satellite mobile communication business licence to a telecoms giant, in a concrete move that accelerates preparations for the large-scale commercial roll-out of its home-grown satellite services. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced on Monday that it had issued the licence to China Unicom, permitting the state-owned company to conduct services such as direct-to-phone satellite connectivity and expand its applications in emergency and maritime... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324843/chasing-starlink-china-unicom-one-step-closer-satellite-communication-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324843/chasing-starlink-china-unicom-one-step-closer-satellite-communication-services?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:17:20 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A made-in-China automated electric air taxi took off in Africa for the first time this week, as a new generation of Chinese low-altitude aircraft attracts growing interest from global buyers. The product on show was a pilotless electric take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) made by EHang Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed tech company from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. It took to the skies during the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, a major industry event involving 34 countries that was... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324491/chinese-flying-taxi-takes-skies-africa-firms-eye-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324491/chinese-flying-taxi-takes-skies-africa-firms-eye-global-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is training representatives from Southeast Asia this month in an effort to promote its home-grown civilian aircraft, as the region leads the world in accepting Chinese deliveries despite Airbus and Boeing’s dominance. Twenty participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are taking part in the 2025 China-Asean Civil Aviation Management Capacity Enhancement Workshop in Beijing, which started Monday. Organised by the Civil Aviation... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324260/china-starts-aviation-training-southeast-asia-it-pushes-c919-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324260/china-starts-aviation-training-southeast-asia-it-pushes-c919-home-grown-jets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 02:15:07 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Dreame Technology, a Chinese brand known for its robot vacuum cleaners, is actively recruiting drone experts in what is seen as a move to compete with DJI, the dominant player in the market, amid growing competition from innovative hardware start-ups. The company is advertising at least 10 positions – including drone navigation modelling algorithm engineer, drone test pilot, drone operations sales director and business director for the pan-aviation industry – according to job postings on the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3322510/dji-faces-new-challenger-chinas-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-hires-drone-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3322510/dji-faces-new-challenger-chinas-robot-vacuum-maker-dreame-hires-drone-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Antigravity, a drone brand incubated by China’s leading full-degree camera manufacturer Insta360, on Thursday unveiled its first product – the Antigravity A1 featuring a built-in 8K 360-degree camera and pilot goggles. The machine is equipped with a dual-lens camera system mounted on both the top and bottom of its fuselage – a design that mirrors the capabilities of Insta360’s popular X series action cameras, providing complete environmental capture without any blind spots, according to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3321795/insta360s-antigravity-unveils-8k-full-degree-drone-challenging-dji?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3321795/insta360s-antigravity-unveils-8k-full-degree-drone-challenging-dji?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang A recent surge of Chinese commercial aviation companies, either formulating or reviving listing plans, highlights the sector’s strong appetite for funding, according to analysts, as Beijing steps up support for innovation-driven businesses seeking to raise capital. LandSpace Technology – which launched in 2023 the world’s first methane-fuelled rocket into orbit, ahead of US competitors SpaceX and Blue Origin – entered a coaching agreement with China International Capital Corporation on July 25,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3321298/rocketing-riches-chinas-cash-hungry-aerospace-firms-aim-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3321298/rocketing-riches-chinas-cash-hungry-aerospace-firms-aim-ipos?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Aug 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin China has completed a critical landing and take-off test of its crewed lunar lander, moving a step closer to putting astronauts on the moon before 2030. A prototype of the four-legged Lanyue lander – designed to ferry two astronauts between lunar orbit and the surface – underwent a comprehensive trial on Wednesday in Huailai county, in northern China’s Hebei province, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Thursday. Using giant tether towers to mimic lunar gravity and a cratered field... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321150/china-completes-key-lander-test-preparation-crewed-moon-mission-2030?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321150/china-completes-key-lander-test-preparation-crewed-moon-mission-2030?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 21:58:10 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin A leading Chinese rocket company appears to have quietly failed another key reusability test, casting doubt on its goal of flying and landing China’s first reusable rocket. Publicly available satellite images suggest an explosion took place at Deep Blue Aerospace’s test site near Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia, some time between late July and early August. Dramatic scorch marks can be seen east of the launch pad – on the opposite side from where the rocket was supposed to land – indicating it may... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321091/scorch-marks-deep-blues-test-site-china-point-reusable-rocket-failure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321091/scorch-marks-deep-blues-test-site-china-point-reusable-rocket-failure?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:00:35 +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 Coco Feng Coco Feng The consumer drone industry is facing new competition from China, as Antigravity – a new brand from omnidirectional camera specialist Insta360, is set to unveil its first product. Scheduled to be unveiled in August, the unmanned aerial vehicle weighs less than 249 grams and features a built-in 360-degree camera with 8K resolution, according to the company. That would make it the industry’s first “360 drone”: until now, users have resorted to attaching full-degree cameras to their flying... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319994/insta360s-antigravity-challenges-dji-8k-360-degree-drone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319994/insta360s-antigravity-challenges-dji-8k-360-degree-drone?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:00:18 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung The United States and Taiwan are exploring the possibility of a groundbreaking spaceport partnership that could slash travel time between them from over half a day to only a couple of hours. According to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which functions as the de facto US embassy in the absence of formal ties, the proposed collaboration will focus on suborbital flights – an emerging form of space transport in which a vehicle briefly exits the Earth’s atmosphere before re-entering and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3319170/us-taiwan-spaceport-may-cut-houston-taipei-travel-time-little-2-1/2-hours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3319170/us-taiwan-spaceport-may-cut-houston-taipei-travel-time-little-2-1/2-hours?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:02:24 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Airbus has signed a new cooperation deal with its Chinese partner that will see the company localise more production of its A321 jet in China, with the announcement coming just a week ahead of a key China-Europe leaders’ summit. The European aviation giant will work with its partner AVIC Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group to start fuselage equipping – installing components onto the front and rear parts of an aircraft – for the A321 at its factory in Tianjin under the agreement. The programme is an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318393/airbus-signs-fresh-deal-chinese-partner-amid-talk-massive-china-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318393/airbus-signs-fresh-deal-chinese-partner-amid-talk-massive-china-order?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin A year after its rocket accidentally lifted off and then crashed during a test, Beijing-based start-up Space Pioneer has redesigned the vehicle and shown that it can withstand the intense forces of launch. In a recent ground-based test in central China, the company used the rocket’s nine-engine first stage – which produces nearly 900 tonnes of thrust combined – to simulate key mission phases, including fuelling, lift-off, flight and recovery. The structure held up under all test conditions, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3318085/chinas-tianlong-3-rocket-passes-critical-stress-test-year-after-explosive-mishap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3318085/chinas-tianlong-3-rocket-passes-critical-stress-test-year-after-explosive-mishap?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip The idea that Hong Kong could play a leading role in the global space economy was greeted with scepticism when I raised the possibility with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu earlier this month. However, critics fail to realise that space technologies have permeated many aspects of our lives – from checking the weather and ordering our meals on our mobile phones to navigating our daily commutes and settling stock transactions in real time. A report published by the American consultancy firm... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3317831/few-small-steps-hong-kong-giant-leap-chinas-space-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3317831/few-small-steps-hong-kong-giant-leap-chinas-space-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jul 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Leopold Chen,Xiaofei Xu,Ralph Jennings Leopold Chen,Xiaofei Xu,Ralph Jennings US President Donald Trump issues quite a few executive orders. So many, in fact, that one could be forgiven for not keeping up with them all. But amid the rapid-fire policy changes that have come to characterise his administration, one arrived last month that could have drastic implications for the world’s drone market – and China’s role in it. The order, signed June 6, requires government agencies to prioritise using home-grown unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) “to the maximum extent permitted by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317044/trump-wants-ground-chinas-drones-have-they-flown-too-high-reach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317044/trump-wants-ground-chinas-drones-have-they-flown-too-high-reach?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 22:00:16 +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 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