China to Design second Phase of C919 Aircraft; Cathay Pacific Shows Interest

In a significant move reflecting China’s growing ambitions in the aviation industry, the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is set to expand its production facilities for the indigenous C919 jets in Shanghai.

This expansion comes in response to a surge in orders, signaling a significant milestone for China’s efforts to establish itself as a key player in the global aerospace market. According to reports from the China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (AVIC-CAPDI), a key contractor involved in the project.

COMAC has embarked on the second phase of the C919 large passenger aircraft batch production capacity construction project. The project, located in Pudong, Shanghai, boasts a substantial total construction area of 330,000 square meters.

The expansion project, as outlined by AVIC-CAPDI, primarily focuses on the construction of crucial infrastructure including an assembly plant, parts warehouse, and tarmac area. Such developments underscore COMAC’s commitment to ramping up manufacturing capabilities to meet the burgeoning demand for the C919 aircraft.

This move comes on the heels of major orders from leading Chinese carriers, including Air China and China Southern Airlines, each placing orders for 100 C919 jets. These substantial orders not only validate the growing confidence but also aim to challenge the dominance of industry giants Airbus and Boeing in the commercial aircraft market.

Despite primarily securing orders from Chinese airlines and aircraft lessors, the C919 has garnered significant traction, accumulating over 1,000 orders to date. Moreover, at the recent Fortune Innovation Forum held in Hong Kong, Ronald Lam, CEO of Cathay Pacific, hinted at the airline’s potential interest in adopting the C919 in the near future.