China’s COMAC goals to carry C919 jet manufacturing capability to 50 this yr, report says

BEIJING/SEOUL (Reuters) – Chinese language planemaker COMAC plans to boost manufacturing capability for its homegrown C919 single-aisle planes to 50 this yr, a COMAC government advised a media outlet supported by the Shanghai authorities.

COMAC Deputy Common Supervisor Shen Bo additionally stated the Shanghai-based state-owned agency goals to fabricate 30 C919 plane this yr, in an interview with The Paper printed on Saturday.

COMAC is searching for to compete internationally with main Western planemakers Airbus and Boeing (NYSE:BA), which produce dozens of their single-aisle A320neo household and 737 MAX jets monthly.

Scaling up manufacturing and acquiring certification from international aviation regulators are key to the Chinese language planemaker’s development technique.

The C919 entered industrial service in 2023 and round 16 of the planes are presently in operation with Chinese language airways, flying inside the mainland and since this month to Hong Kong.

Aviation consultancy Cirium stated it expects one other 27 C919 jets to be delivered this yr.

China’s three main state-owned airways, Air China (OTC:AIRYY), China Jap Airways (OTC:CEAYY), and China Southern Airways, are anticipated to function a fleet of not less than 100 C919s every by 2031, in accordance with their introduced orders.

In 2023, a COMAC official stated the corporate had a goal of reaching an annual manufacturing capability of 150 C919 plane inside the following 5 years.

Along with the C919, COMAC can be growing a bigger C929 wide-body jet.

Shen stated the C929 was within the preliminary design and provider choice part, with plans to maneuver to the detailed design stage quickly.

Air China would be the first buyer for the C929, COMAC stated in November.