The Comac C919 bears striking resemblance to existing models from Airbus and Boeing, indicating it won’t significantly disrupt the market, according to Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus’s commercial aircraft division.
Scherer humorously remarked, “It looks a bit like an Airbus narrow body,” emphasizing the similarity between the C919 and existing aircraft in the market.
Addressing concerns during a media roundtable at the Singapore Airshow, Scherer stressed that while the C919 represents a legitimate effort by China, it poses no significant threat to established players like Airbus and Boeing.
Acknowledging the importance of healthy competition, Scherer stated, “We welcome the competition as the market is large enough to accommodate it.”
Comac, the manufacturer behind the C919, did not provide an immediate response to CNBC’s request for comment.
Interestingly, both Boeing and Airbus extended their “congratulations” to the C919 when it took its first commercial flight.
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun has weighed in on the Chinese C919 commercial flight, expressing his perspective on its impact. Calhoun acknowledged the C919 as a “good airplane”. However, he emphasizes that the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) has a “long while” to go before it can meet the demands of Chinese airlines in terms of production capacity.
The Comac C919 Competes Head-on with Airbus and Boeing
Positioned as a rival to Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’s A320, the Comac C919 is a narrow-body jet developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. Certified by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in September 2022, it commenced commercial operations with China Eastern Airlines in May last year.
Notably, the C919 shares the same engine as Airbus’s A320neo, utilizing the CFM International LEAP engines.
Comac recently inked a deal with China’s Tibet Airlines at the air show, finalizing an order for 40 C919 and 10 ARJ21 jets. The ARJ21 is a short-to-medium-range turbofan aircraft suitable for regional flights.
While currently certified only by Chinese authorities, industry experts foresee the C919 as a potential challenger to the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus, particularly amidst Boeing’s challenges with the 737 Max.
China’s C919 and Its Echoes of Airbus’s Historic US Market Entry
China’s C919 passenger jet signifies a historical parallel in the aviation industry, reminiscent of Airbus’s foray into the US airliner market in the late 1970s with the A300 twin-jet widebody. This strategic move by Airbus, then a burgeoning European consortium, challenged the established dominance of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, significantly altering the competitive landscape of commercial aviation. Today, the C919’s entry into the global market stands to potentially disrupt the long-standing duopoly in a similar manner.
In the 1970s, Airbus’s entry into the US market marked a major turning point in aviation history. It broke the longstanding monopoly of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, bringing fresh competitive dynamics to the industry. This bold move paved the way for Airbus to evolve into a key player, eventually achieving a dominant position over Boeing in later years.
Northcoast Research analyst Chris Olin previously noted, “The industry contacts we speak to believe the problems at Boeing, specifically the 737 Max, present an early opportunity for Comac.
More C919 news stories: https://www.airguide.info/?s=c919
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com
