Passenger jet billed as China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus prepares to make first international flight
The Comac C919 will fly from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, although experts say it could take generations for it to challenge the west’s dominance of the industry China hopes to break into the world of commercial aviation with the first international flight of a Chinese-made passenger jet scheduled for Wednesday. The Comac C919 will take off from Beijing capital international airport at…
China aims to challenge the dominance of Boeing and Airbus with its first international flight of the Comac C919 passenger jet. Scheduled to depart from Beijing Capital International Airport on Wednesday, the C919 is set to land in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, approximately two hours later. The narrow-body jet, made by the state-owned Comac, is similar in size to the Boeing 737.
Analysts suggest that it could take generations before a Chinese aircraft can meaningfully challenge the global dominance of Boeing and Airbus. The C919 is currently used on domestic routes operated by Chinese airlines and has been on delivery to customers for a while. However, it has not been approved by European or American regulators.
China has long sought to build its own commercial aircraft, with the C919 unveiled in 2015, as a symbol of national prestige. However, progress has been slow due to the complex nature of aviation, requiring integration of advanced science and engineering, as well as parts sourced from overseas. Despite this, some experts believe that Comac may still face a long road to gaining trust among airlines and passengers.
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