China's first self-developed 170-190-seat large airliner, the COMAC C919, was also showcased on the international stage. The aircraft participated in the Singapore Air Show, which is the largest air show in Asia, where the air forces and developers of countries in the region present an annual report on new developments. This year, Boeing, which has ongoing problems with the 737 MAX, stayed away, but another competitor, Airbus, was represented. In a Yahoo Finance article.
China, striving to achieve self-sufficiency in the technology sector, has invested heavily in the production of its first Chinese-designed passenger aircraft.
Beijing hopes so The C919 will be able to compete with popular foreign aircraftSuch as Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. The aircraft is manufactured by state-owned COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Co., Ltd.), but many of its components are sourced from other countries.
The C919 has been operating regularly between Shanghai and Chengdu for China Eastern Airlines since last May.
The first version of the narrow-body aircraft, capable of carrying 164 passengers, was officially delivered to the Chinese airline in December 2022. The manufacturer plans to increase its annual production capacity to 150 models within five years. The Shanghai Science and Technology Commission reported in January 2023 that it had already received 1,035 applications for this type from 32 customers, and since then the number has continued to increase.
Asia, especially China, is a priority target for European Airbus and American Boeing, which are trying to raise capital from the growing demand for air travel from the large middle class.
Earlier, Airbus announced plans to double its manufacturing capacity in China and signed an agreement to build a second assembly line for A320 aircraft in the city of Tianjin in northeastern China. The first assembly plant was opened here in 2008, producing four A320s per month.
