China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer, Comac, is ramping up efforts to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing, with plans to expand its market share both domestically and internationally, including in Southeast Asia and potentially the West.
Comac, China’s first domestic aerospace manufacturer, is already being used by some of the country’s largest airlines, including China Eastern Airlines, Air China, and China Southern Airlines. The company’s flagship aircraft, the C919, is currently flying on domestic routes. This narrow-body, single-aisle jet, which has already benefited from several subsidies, completed its first commercial flight in 2023. However, it is still awaiting certain certifications before it can operate internationally.
The company is also developing the C929, a wide-body aircraft aimed at competing in the long-haul market. With significant backing from the Chinese government, Comac is working to increase the size of China’s domestic aviation market while also positioning itself for international competition. The goal is to reduce China’s reliance on foreign manufacturers, such as Airbus and Boeing, aligning with Beijing’s broader ambitions to strengthen its technological capabilities in the coming years.
The global aviation market has seen significant growth in both short-haul and long-haul air travel, with increased demand following the pandemic. As a result, Mordor Intelligence predicts that the market will grow from $343.54 billion (€333.14 billion) to $395.76 billion (€383.78 billion) by the end of the decade. Comac aims to begin its international expansion in Southeast Asia by 2026, with plans to eventually target Western markets.
Despite this ambitious expansion plan, scaling production to rival industry giants like Boeing and Airbus presents a major challenge. Currently, Comac is manufacturing one C919 aircraft per month, but aviation consulting firm IBA projects that production could rise to 11 per month by 2040. In comparison, Boeing produces 38 737 MAX jets monthly, with plans to increase that number to 114 by 2027. Airbus also expects to ramp up production of its A320 aircraft to 75 units per month by 2027.
Given these production differences, Comac may take considerable time to match the output levels of Boeing and Airbus. Building a loyal customer base will also be critical for the company’s long-term success. However, Boeing’s recent challenges, including crashes, production issues, and late deliveries, have dampened investor and consumer confidence, leading to a significant drop in its market value. Similarly, Airbus has faced its own production and supply chain difficulties, causing delays and cancellations in deliveries.
As Comac works to overcome these challenges, it will continue to push forward with its expansion strategy, hoping to carve out a larger share of the global aviation market.
