For decades, the global commercial aviation market has been dominated by Airbus and Boeing, with their fleets of narrowbody and widebody aircraft serving airlines worldwide.

However, China’s Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is now emerging as a potential competitor, particularly with its plans for the C929, a new long-haul widebody aircraft.

Cathay Pacific, one of Asia’s leading airlines, is closely monitoring Comac’s progress. While the Hong Kong-based carrier has traditionally relied on Airbus and Boeing for its fleet, it is showing growing interest in Chinese-made aircraft, including the C919 narrowbody and the upcoming C929 widebody.

Boeing 777X Delays Impact Cathay Pacific’s Fleet Plans

Cathay Pacific is currently navigating challenges with its Boeing 777X orders. The airline has 21 Boeing 777-9 aircraft on order, but delivery delays have disrupted its long-term fleet strategy.

Initially, Cathay expected two 777-9s in 2025, with the remaining 19 arriving in 2026 and beyond. However, recent updates indicate that all 21 aircraft will now be delivered in 2027 or later.

Despite these delays, Cathay’s fleet expansion continues in other areas. The airline is set to receive three additional Airbus narrowbodies—either A320neo or A321neo—while its low-cost subsidiary, HK Express, expects four A321neo deliveries in 2024, with three more A321neos and two A320neos arriving in 2026.

Comac’s C919 Gains Traction, Cathay Pacific Takes Notice

comac C919, a narrowbody aircraft designed to compete with the comac c919 vs airbus a320 and Boeing 737, is already in service with China’s three largest airlines. China Eastern Airlines, the launch customer, has been operating C919 flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong since early 2024.

Comac has also introduced a stretched version of the C919, though it has yet to secure a launch customer. Additionally, a high-altitude variant of the aircraft has already garnered commitments from Tibet Airlines.

Cathay Pacific’s Chief Operating Officer, Alex McGowan, has expressed interest in Comac’s developments, particularly the comac c929. “We are keen to see how the C929 evolves, especially regarding its engine options, to determine whether it could meet our future mid-sized widebody needs,” he said.

While Cathay remains committed to its existing orders from Boeing and Airbus, the airline acknowledges the potential of Chinese-built aircraft. McGowan emphasized that Cathay views Comac’s progress as a positive development for the aviation industry and is open to collaboration.

“We very much view the development of a Chinese-made, world-class aircraft as an extremely positive thing for the entire industry,” he stated. The airline has even expressed willingness to share its expertise with Comac to support the development of future aircraft models.