First Appearance at Singapore Airshow
Approval from US and European Regulators is Key
China has attracted attention by showcasing its first domestically produced passenger aircraft at an overseas airshow for the first time. There is growing interest in how competitive Chinese-made aircraft, which have so far remained for domestic use, will be in the international market. The Chinese government intends to build the capacity to compete with American and European airlines in the future, and it is expected to enter new airline markets in Southeast Asia and Africa through low-cost marketing strategies.
On the 18th, the C919, the first Chinese domestically produced aircraft made by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), was conducting a practice flight at Singapore Changi International Airport before the airshow opening. [Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]
According to CNN on the 20th, the C919, the first domestically produced aircraft made by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in 2022, was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow. This is the first time a Chinese self-produced aircraft has been exhibited at an overseas airshow. Earlier, on the 18th, ahead of the airshow opening, the C919 was spotted performing practice flights near Singapore Changi International Airport, drawing attention.
The Singapore Airshow, which runs from the 20th to the 25th, is one of the world's top three airshows, with over 1,000 companies from more than 50 countries and more than 50,000 participants. The Singapore Air Force dispatched F-15 fighter jets and Apache helicopters for aerobatic displays, and flight teams from Korea, India, Australia, and other countries also participated.
The C919 passenger aircraft participating in this airshow is the first Chinese-made aircraft developed by COMAC with support from Chinese authorities. COMAC began research and development of the C919 in 2006 and received airworthiness certification?the final procedure for commercial flight approval from Chinese aviation authorities?in September 2022. It is classified as a single-aisle, narrow-body medium-sized passenger aircraft with a seating capacity of 164. The price per unit is reported to be around 100 million USD (approximately 133.8 billion KRW).
The C919 is currently only used on domestic routes within China. One unit was delivered in 2022, and three units were acquired by China Eastern Airlines last year. About 12 units are expected to be delivered this year. Although production is still limited, COMAC plans to expand facilities and begin mass production within 3 to 5 years. Originally, COMAC aimed to produce more than 150 units annually, but the expansion has faced difficulties due to the challenging Chinese economic situation.
The Chinese government states that once COMAC's expansion is in full swing, it will actively enter the passenger aircraft market, which has been dominated by Western companies such as Boeing in the U.S. and Airbus in Europe. However, the C919 has not yet received approval from U.S. and European aviation authorities, making exports difficult.
Shukor Yusof, CEO of Endau Analytics, an aviation consulting firm in Singapore, told CNN, "The C919 has not received certification from U.S. and European aviation regulators, and its flight range of only 5 to 6 hours is a disadvantage. However, it has potential competitiveness as a low-cost domestic aircraft for politically friendly countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central Asia."
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