Passenger jet billed as China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus prepares to make first international flight

China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), aims to challenge global aviation giants Boeing and Airbus with its domestically-made passenger jet, the C919. On Wednesday, the C919 will make its first international flight, departing from Beijing Capital International Airport and landing in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, just over two hours later.

The aircraft, similar in size to the Boeing 737, is touted as a response to the two-decade-long dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the global commercial aviation market, particularly in Asia.

However, despite the C919’s promotional claims and China’s ambitions, experts caution that it may take generations for the Chinese aircraft to genuinely challenge its Western counterparts. Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, says the flight is primarily a public relations move, highlighting that Ulaanbaatar's proximity to Beijing was a significant factor in the choice of destination.

Kennedy argues that the plane is years overdue, relies heavily on Western components, and is less efficient than its Boeing and Airbus counterparts.

China's pursuit of self-sufficiency in aircraft manufacturing stems from a desire to secure its national security, as reliance on foreign technology could threaten strategic stability. Yet, aviation requires the integration of numerous complex technologies and parts from abroad, making it an exceptionally challenging field. Kyle Chan, a fellow at Brookings focused on China’s industrial policy, notes that the C919’s complexity and the requirement for precision components, complex electro-mechanical control systems, and a vast global supply chain make it an order of magnitude more difficult to manufacture than electric vehicles (EVs).

Currently, Comac delivers only a fraction of its production targets, with only 15 units of the C919 delivered to customers last year. Despite the US reportedly suspending the export of certain products to Comac in 2022, China and the US have since agreed to a trade truce that is set to expire in November. China’s aviation ambitions remain a top priority, with Zhang Yanzhong, an aviation expert and academic from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasizing the need for young engineers to contribute to the country’s aerospace industry. Yet, he acknowledges that the road to commercial success for Comac is fraught with difficulties.