Will the Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac be able to shake the historic aviation duopoly formed by the European Airbus and the American Boeing? This perspective is getting closer since Comac should obtain authorization to operate its C919 in the next few days after having completed the certification flights.
In the process, China Eastern Airlines will be the first airline to fly this aircraft on domestic and international routes. The giant has ordered 5 devices from the Chinese manufacturer.
The C919 is a short-medium range aircraft capable of transporting 158 to 174 passengers over 4,075 kilometers, it would compete directly with the popular Airbus A220 and A320 and the Boeing 737.
“It will take a long time for them to be one of the three players”
Until today, Comac only the ARJ21 flies, a twin engine with 70 to 90 seats, capable of flying 3,700 km… only in China, since it does not meet the necessary conditions to fly in Europe or the United States.
Could the arrival of the C919 raise fears of losing market share for the European aircraft manufacturer, particularly in China, a market that has become strategic in terms of volumes?
Guest of BFM Business at the end of July, Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, shows a certain serenity but in no way underestimates this new adversary.
However, “it will take a long time for them to pick up the pace, the reliability of the aircraft to be able to be one of the three players, knowing that today it is Boeing and Airbus that dominate to a large extent,” he continues. .
For the CEO, Airbus has all the weapons to preserve its positions. “We have an American competitor that is historically very strong. Today we overcome them, that shows that things can change. We believe that the best way out is to continue investing, to continue innovating and in particular in the field of decarbonisation of the sector.”
Source: BFM TV
