China’s plan to compete with Boeing and Airbus with its homegrown C919 passenger jet is facing delays as US export restrictions threaten to slow deliveries.
The jet, built by state-owned COMAC, has been pitched as a symbol of China‘s technological progress, but it still relies heavily on Western-made components.
COMAC had hoped to deliver 30 jets this year but has only supplied seven as of October, according to aviation consultancy Cirium.
In the past year, Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern received 13 C919 jets, bringing their combined fleet to about 20 aircraft in operation.
“COMAC faces significant risk from the volatile policy environment, with its supply chains vulnerable to export restrictions and tit-for-tat measures between the US and China,” said Max J. Zenglein, Asia-Pacific senior economist at The Conference Board.
According to NDTV, the jet’s production involves a wide network of suppliers, with major contributions from US companies such as GE, Honeywell, and Collins, as well as several partners from Europe and China.
Trade tensions have made key components, like the LEAP-1C engines produced by GE Aerospace and France’s Safran, subject to US export licenses.
These restrictions briefly halted engine exports around May, delaying production until July.
“Engine and avionics dependence on Western suppliers continues to expose the program to policy decisions beyond COMAC’s control,” said Dan Taylor, head of consulting at aviation consultancy IBA.
C919 Targets Domestic and Global Flights
Despite the geopolitical hurdles, slower production also stems from caution in prioritizing safety and quality.
China is currently testing its domestically developed CJ-1000A engine, created by the state-run Aero Engine Corporation of China.
Analysts note that reducing reliance on foreign components will be a long-term challenge.
The C919, which completed its first commercial flight in 2023, is intended to meet China’s growing domestic demand for aircraft and to eventually fly globally in regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe, AP News reported.
However, international certification from regulators in the US and EU could take years, limiting immediate exports.
Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, explained that for the C919 to succeed globally, it “needs good economics, a prompt global product support network, and certification from safety agencies. Any one of these alone doesn’t mean much.”
China is forecast to require 9,570 new passenger jets between 2025 and 2044, most of them single-aisle aircraft like the C919.
However, COMAC faces competition from Airbus, which plans to expand its A320 production in China with a second assembly line by 2026.
Originally published on vcpost.com
