Six months ago, I wrote about the “COMAC C919, Challenging the Boeing and Airbus Duopoly.” The aircraft was scheduled for production release in 2016. And looks like the plan is proceeding well. The company has reported 100 of the planes having been pre-ordered by various airlines. So, here we are, six years before release, the C919 has already started making dents in this lucrative industry.
You may follow the above link to see who the suppliers are (for various subsystems of this aircraft) as well as other pertinent information about the market the C919 competes in. The C919 leverages COMAC’s experience from the ARJ21 which is expected to enter service this year.
The orders are making news around the world. Additional coverage by USA Today: “China wants to rival Boeing, Airbus with its C919 ‘big plane’.”
Dragan says
Do you know who made the orders? I believe it is political decision and the buyers are chinese companies. We will have to wait and see if the product is good enough to be sucesfull in international market.
YinYang says
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-11/16/content_11558930.htm
CDB Leasing and GE Capital will lease theirs to any airline around the world.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/2010-11/17/content_11562304.htm
Politics really doesn’t have that much to do with it. If the plane is not good enough, the Chinese domestic airlines ain’t gonna buy it. And, no amount of politics can change that.
I’ll agree there is some “politics” involved – the same type as FBI using Ford and GM vehicles. Americans would be shocked if they change their fleet over to Toyota. Many American companies who provide cars for some of their employees usually purchase Ford, GM, etc.. Is that really politics?
Ray says
C919 prototype assembled and rolled out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL5lDZUhvk4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwBUtx7yidc