 "China's first domestically manufactured passenger aircraft Comac C919 flies over Victoria Harbour during its inaugural voyage outside the mainland, in Hong Kong. Reuters")
As Boeing contends with production delays and quality concerns, China is seizing the opportunity to advance its ambitions in the large jet airliner market.
With state-backed funding and strategic initiatives, China aims to establish itself as a formidable player in this part of the global aviation industry, which has so far been a duopoly.
Boeing’s production struggles
In 2024, Boeing’s commercial aircraft deliveries dropped to 348 units, a steep decline from 528 in 2023 and significantly lower than competitor Airbus’s 766 deliveries.
The downturn is largely attributed to increased regulatory scrutiny and operational disruptions.
A seven-week machinists’ strike last year further hampered production, while a federal cap on 737 MAX output that followed a safety incident involving a door plug failure shortly after takeoff led to embarrassment and global scrutiny.
While these are causes of concern for Boeing grapples, they appear to have created a window of opportunity for China to bolster its aviation efforts.
China’s push into aviation
China is leveraging the success of its C919 narrowbody jet, assembled by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), as a springboard for further advancements, South China Morning Post reported.
The C919, positioned as a rival to Boeing’s 737, has already entered service with major Chinese carriers.
However, the C919 still depends on Western suppliers for critical components such as engines and avionics.
To address this dependency, Beijing is ramping up efforts to develop indigenous alternatives. Comac is also advancing designs for its first commercial twin-aisle airliner, the C929, with Air China confirmed as its launch operator.
Plans for the larger C939 jumbo jet are underway, as the nation positions itself for broader market penetration, including international certifications and expanded sales.
Funding fuels flight?
Riding high on the buzz surrounding the C919, Beijing is accelerating its aircraft technology development through initiatives like a state capital fund established in June 2024.
This fund is designed to fuel breakthroughs in “large aircraft” research, focusing on foundational and forward-looking technologies.
Qualified projects could receive up to 2.6 million yuan (US$355,000) over four years. Applications will be accepted in March, with recipients to be announced thereafter.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhile the total size of the fund remains undisclosed, estimates suggest it amounts to several billion yuan.
Challenges remain
Despite its recent struggles, Boeing retains a significant share of the global market and continues to secure major deals. The aerospace giant’s backlog of orders, particularly for its 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner models, only goes to show its resilience.
Boeing has also publicly committed to addressing production challenges, pledging improved safety standards, operational efficiency, and faster deliveries to maintain customer confidence.
Moreover, for China’s C919, the road to establishing itself as a reliable competitor in the global market is far from assured. Building trust in the aircraft’s safety, reliability, and performance may take years, especially as the model enters new markets outside China.
The jet also faces hurdles in obtaining certifications from Western regulators, which are essential for broader international sales.
Geopolitical concerns add to the obstacles. The ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China could impede efforts to access critical technologies.
China’s reliance on Western suppliers for components like engines and avionics remains a vulnerability given its rocky relations with these nations.
With inputs from agencies