China’s leading aircraft manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), is intensifying its challenge to the Boeing-Airbus duopoly by increasing production capacity for its C919 narrowbody jet by 50 percent this year. The plan was revealed during a supplier conference held in Xian this week, signaling Beijing’s ambitions to strengthen its domestic aviation industry and reduce reliance on foreign aircraft manufacturers.
The C919 is China’s first domestically developed narrowbody jet, designed to compete directly with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families. With growing support from the Chinese government and airlines, Comac is accelerating production to meet rising domestic demand and position itself as a credible alternative in the global aviation market.
This latest push to expand output builds on Comac’s earlier efforts to scale up manufacturing capabilities. The company delivered its first C919 to China Eastern Airlines in 2023, marking a milestone in China’s aviation ambitions. Since then, the aircraft has entered regular commercial service, with additional orders from state-backed and private carriers.
Industry analysts view Comac’s increased production capacity as a strategic move to capture a larger share of China’s booming aviation market, which is expected to become the world’s largest by the mid-2030s. With geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties affecting global supply chains, China’s push for self-reliance in aerospace manufacturing is gaining momentum.
While the C919 is still heavily reliant on Western components, including engines and avionics, Comac’s production ramp-up underscores its long-term goal of achieving technological independence. If successful, the company’s expanded output could pose a significant challenge to Boeing and Airbus, particularly in China’s domestic market, where regulatory support and airline demand favor home-grown solutions.
As production scales up, Comac aims to deliver more C919 aircraft to Chinese airlines while exploring potential international markets. This move could reshape the global aviation landscape and intensify competition in the narrowbody jet segment, historically dominated by Boeing and Airbus.