COMAC is expected to have difficulty meeting the revised delivery target for its flagship single-aisle jet, the C919. Adverse factors related to the trade war have hampered production progress, and its global expansion is also facing challenges.
According to Bloomberg News, citing data from aviation consultancy Cirium and Planespotters.net, only 13 C919 jets—regarded as China's answer to Airbus and Boeing—have been delivered in the year up to December 22, the same number as delivered to airlines last year.
Bloomberg previously reported that earlier this year, COMAC had already lowered its annual delivery target from 75 aircraft to 25, but the pace of deliveries remains significantly behind. With only a few days left in 2025, unless there is a rush of concentrated deliveries at year-end, COMAC is expected to fall short of even the revised target by nearly half, and compared with the initial target, the delivery gap exceeds 80%.
According to the 2024 annual reports of Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines—the three major Chinese airlines and recipients of the C919—they originally planned to introduce a combined total of 32 aircraft. However, data shows that as of now, they have actually received only 12.
According to the 2024 annual reports of Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines—the three major Chinese airlines and recipients of the C919—they originally planned to introduce a combined total of 32 aircraft. However, data shows that as of now, they have actually received only 12.
According to a report by 21st Century Business Herald at the end of November, China's National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System shows that COMAC underwent a business registration change, with its registered capital soaring from approximately 50.101 billion yuan (about 31.86 billion ringgit) to about 94.098 billion yuan, an increase of around 88%.
The report said that this massive capital injection comes at a critical period when the C919 is beginning commercial operations and entering large-scale deliveries.
At a supplier conference in March this year, COMAC stated it plans to increase capacity next year to produce 100 C919 aircraft. COMAC also said that annual output in 2027 and 2028 will be raised to 150 aircraft each, and further increased to 200 per year by 2029.
The report said that this massive capital injection comes at a critical period when the C919 is beginning commercial operations and entering large-scale deliveries.
At a supplier conference in March this year, COMAC stated it plans to increase capacity next year to produce 100 C919 aircraft. COMAC also said that annual output in 2027 and 2028 will be raised to 150 aircraft each, and further increased to 200 per year by 2029.
However, multiple challenges faced this year have dragged down capacity, especially the difficulty in maintaining stable supplies of the parts needed for the new aircraft, including engines from CFM International. CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France's Safran Group. Its engines are subject to U.S. export restrictions; COMAC's C919 relies on this engine, and its smaller C909 regional jet also uses GE engines.
The C919 is China's first jet-powered, medium-haul trunk airliner to be independently developed according to international airworthiness standards, possessing full independent intellectual property rights. In December 2022, COMAC delivered the first C919 to China Eastern Airlines, and in May 2023 completed its first commercial flight, officially entering the civil aviation market.