China’s Jet Dream Stalls as Airlines Flock Back to Boeing, Airbus

For all the talk of China’s industrial rise, its aviation ambitions may be hitting a ceiling.

The C919 remains unproven outside of China and heavily reliant on the West. (Photo: Ken Chen Wikimedia Commons)

Chinese airlines are reportedly considering a massive fleet refresh of nearly 1,000 new jets — and Boeing and Airbus are the ones getting the calls, Khac Phu Nguyen reported for GuruFocus.

That’s a setback for Comac, China’s state-backed jetmaker, which has spent nearly two decades trying to chip away at the Boeing-Airbus duopoly.

Despite years of government support and a backlog of more than 1,000 C919 orders — most from leasing firms — Comac has delivered fewer than 200 planes since 2008. The global market still isn’t buying in.

The C919 remains unproven outside of China and heavily reliant on the West. The jet uses engines from CFM International and other Western-made components, and it has struggled to secure certification abroad.

That has slowed exports and disrupted delivery schedules. Comac had planned to deliver 75 planes this year but has managed only five so far.

Even China’s top three carriers — Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern — are still waiting for most of their orders. With Boeing and Airbus back in line for potentially blockbuster deals, Comac risks becoming an afterthought in its own home market.