Airbus’ edge over Boeing in China under threat as Comac’s new C919 jet readies for take off
- Both Airbus and Boeing assemble jets in China, largely political moves to help them capture a share of the huge domestic market
- But with China’s C919 passenger jet set for certification later this year, they will have to get used to sharing the narrow-body plane market
Despite investing heavily in aircraft assembly facilities in China, Airbus may soon see its edge over rival Boeing eaten away as the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is expected to enter the narrow-body plane market with its C919 jet next year.
Both Airbus and Boeing assemble jets in China for the domestic market, savvy political moves to help them each carve out a portion of the nation’s vast and rapidly growing aviation market. But they will soon have to share the spotlight with Comac, a company that has a built-in advantage in dealing with Chinese airlines.
In November 2020, Boeing estimated Chinese airlines would acquire 8,600 new aeroplanes valued at US$1.4 trillion and commercial aviation services valued at $1.7 trillion over the next 20 years. Both Boeing and Airbus have stepped up their presence in China to try to secure a piece of the pie.
Airbus has provided China Eastern Airlines with single aisle A320 family jets from its Tianjin assembly line for years, and last month delivered its first A350 widebody passenger jet.
