Aviation

Air China to Launch COMAC’s C929 in a Bid to Rival Boeing and Airbus

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

China’s ambitions to compete with the world’s leading widebody aircraft manufacturers took a major step forward this week.

At the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC) announced a significant milestone with over 100 new aircraft orders.

This included a high-profile agreement with Air China for the development and future launch of the C929—a jet seen as a potential competitor to popular widebodies like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 project, previously known as the CR929, was initially developed as part of a joint venture between China and Russia. However, due to the breakdown of that partnership following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, comac has continued the project independently.

Now in its preliminary design phase, the C929 is expected to accommodate around 280 passengers and cover a range of up to 12,000 kilometers, aligning with the demands of long-haul routes.

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Although COMAC has not provided a specific timeline for the comac c929’s entry into service, reports suggest that work on the prototype is already underway, and a COMAC supplier anticipates delivering the first fuselage section by 2027.

While details on the exact number of aircraft in Air China’s order are yet to be disclosed, the commitment signals China’s determination to expand its influence in the aviation sector.

With the C929, COMAC aims to challenge Boeing and Airbus’s dominance in the widebody market, providing airlines with a new, homegrown option for international and regional routes.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.