China’s Comac Aims To Boost C919 Jet Production In 2025

Chinese planemaker Comac plans to increase production of its homegrown C919 single-aisle jets to 50 this year, a company executive said, Sophie Yu and Lisa Barrington reported for Reuters.

The C919 entered commercial service in 2023, with about 16 planes currently in operation with Chinese airlines. I Photo: N509FZ Wikimedia Commons

Shen Bo, Comac’s Deputy General Manager, revealed in an interview with The Paper that the Shanghai-based state-owned company aims to manufacture 30 C919 aircraft this year.

Comac seeks to challenge Western planemakers Airbus and Boeing, which produce dozens of their A320neo and 737 MAX jets monthly.

Scaling up production and securing foreign aviation certifications are critical components of Comac’s growth strategy.

The C919 entered commercial service in 2023, with about 16 planes currently in operation with Chinese airlines, flying domestically and, as of this month, to Hong Kong.

Aviation consultancy Cirium expects an additional 27 C919 jets to be delivered this year.

China’s three largest state-owned airlines—Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines—are expected to operate fleets of at least 100 C919s each by 2031, based on their announced orders.