What's happened
China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation (Comac) is promoting its C919 passenger jet as a competitor to Boeing and Airbus. Recent tours for students highlight its development, while potential orders from Southeast Asia could bolster its international presence. Comac seeks to learn from Embraer's success to enhance its global strategy.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, Comac's recent student tours aim to inspire national pride and showcase the C919's development. The article notes that while the C919 has made strides, it still relies heavily on foreign components. In contrast, Bloomberg highlights Embraer's cautious approach to developing a competitor to the C919, indicating the competitive landscape in aviation remains complex. The South China Morning Post also reports on potential orders from Southeast Asia, emphasizing the region's strategic importance for Comac's growth. Analysts suggest that political factors may influence purchasing decisions, as noted by David Bach from the International Institute for Management Development.
How we got here
The C919, developed by Comac, made its first commercial flight in May 2023 after 14 years of development. With over 1,300 orders, it aims to challenge established players like Boeing and Airbus in the global aviation market.
More on these topics
-
China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
-
Embraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, executive and agricultural aircraft and provides aeronautical services. It was founded in 1969 in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, where its headquarters are located.
-
The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide.
-
Airbus SE is a European multinational aerospace corporation. The 'SE' in the name refers to Societas Europaea, which enables it to be registered as European rather than Dutch.