Chinese Jet Maker Increases Efforts to Take Airbus and Boeing Share of Aviation Market

[C0RI0LANUS]

The COMAC C919 is a narrow-body single aisle passenger jet being used for key routes, but is awaiting certain certifications which will allow it to fly internationally.

China is the second largest civil aviation market in the world after the US and has embarked on a course of expansion aimed at rapidly increasing its aircraft market share, through Comac, the country’s first domestic state-owned aerospace manufacturer.

Some of China’s largest airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines are already using Comac’s flagship aircraft, the C919, on domestic routes.

Beijing's aim to be less reliant on foreign aircraft manufacturers. This is in line with China’s plans to advance its technological power over the next few years.

Both short-haul and long-haul air travel has surged post-pandemic, boosted by cheaper fares and more deals on popular destinations. Mordor Intelligence expects the aviation market to expand from $343.54bn to $395.76bn by the end of the decade.

Comac is manufacturing one C919 aircraft per month. IBA, an aviation consulting company, estimates that this figure can potentially go up to 11 monthly by 2040.

In contrast, Boeing currently produces 38 737 MAX aircraft monthly, with plans to triple this number by 2027. Airbus has also announced that it expects the A320 aircraft production to hit about 75 units per month in 2027.

Boeing is experiencing production and delivery issues, but their recent horrific crashes have also hit investor and consumer sentiment. Passengers now enquire whether their flight will be on a Boeing 737 MAX.

Airbus is facing production supply chain issues, but is manufacturing a new eco-friendly fuel-efficient aircraft, the A220-300, which is also one of the quietest civilian airplanes in the world.


Air Canada’s total firm orders for the A220-300 stands at 65 aircraft.



Last year US Senators grilled outgoing Boeing CEO David Calhoun on Capitol Hill: ‘Why haven’t you resigned?’ The disgraced oligarch began his testimony by standing and facing relatives of Boeing plane crash victims: “I apologize for the grief that we have caused.” Shareholders shamelessly approved an obscene $33m pay package for Calhoun. (Photo: Samuel Corum / Bloomberg / Getty Images: 17 May 2024)



Aerial view of Beijing’s Daxing International Airport, one of the largest and busiest of the world.



Sources:

https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/01/03/chinese-jet-maker-ramps-up-efforts-to-push-airbus-and-boeing-out

https://www.btimesonline.com/articles/171983/20241231/how-many-boeing-plane-crashes-have-occurred-in-2024-and-what-we-know-about-the-737-800-model.htm

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/18/boeing-calhoun-senate-hearing-00163929

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/boeing-charged-737-max-fraud-conspiracy-and-agrees-pay-over-25-billion

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/17/investing/boeing-shareholders-vote-to-approve-usd33-million-ceo-pay-package/index.html