Aviation

Brazilian Airline Plans Purchase of COMAC C919 Jets

COMAC Secures $1.5B Regional Jets Order Deal with Hainan Airlines

Brazilian airline Total Linhas Aereas, a small cargo and charter carrier, is in advanced talks to become the first company outside Asia to purchase aircraft from China’s state-owned planemaker, COMAC.

As reported by Reuters, This move signals COMAC’s ambition to penetrate a global passenger jet market traditionally dominated by Western manufacturers.

Qatar Citizens Can Travel to the United States Without a Visa

Paulo Almada, Total Linhas Aereas’ controlling partner, revealed that discussions have been ongoing for several months. He is set to visit COMAC in October to discuss a potential order of up to four C919 aircraft.

The airline views this as a strategic opportunity, particularly since Embraer, a major Brazilian manufacturer of regional jets, cannot deliver new planes before 2026, while Airbus and Boeing’s slots are only available by 2028. The earlier delivery timeline from COMAC could give Total Linhas Aereas a competitive edge.

South Africa Shows Interest in Procuring Embraer C-390 Aircraft

COMAC’s C919 is a direct competitor to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, offering seating for up to 192 passengers, c919 vs a320 compared to the 146-seat capacity of Embraer’s E195-E2.

This difference makes the c919 more suitable for Total Linhas Aereas’ expansion plans. Although Embraer is based in Brazil, the negotiations with COMAC represent a pivotal moment in the country’s aviation industry.

Senator Rogerio Carvalho from Brazil’s ruling Workers Party highlighted that if the deal with COMAC progresses, Brazil would anticipate increased Chinese demand for Embraer jets in return. While Almada confirmed plans to initially acquire four C919s, comac c919 price details about potential purchases of COMAC’s smaller ARJ21 aircraft remain undisclosed.

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.

American Airlines Is Looking for Flight Attendants: Apply Now

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.

Close Call at Heathrow: BA Flight Narrowly Escapes Drone Collision

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.