Reference News Network, February 6 report - According to the BBC website on February 3, at the Singapore Air Show, the exhibition hall displayed various scale models and flight simulators, as well as interactive screens showcasing the latest commercial aircraft and aviation technology.

One booth was particularly eye-catching, which belongs to China Commercial Aircraft Corporation (COMAC). In 2024, its C919 passenger plane made its debut outside China at the Singapore Air Show. Since then, the company has made significant progress.

The report states that the launch of the C919 aims to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, and increasingly focuses on regions outside China.

The report points out that for COMAC, this air show provides an opportunity to become a potential competitor of Airbus and Boeing in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing air transport market globally, and airlines are currently facing issues such as delayed deliveries and supply chain tensions.

Willie Walsh, Chairman of the International Air Transport Association, said: "In time, COMAC will become a globally competitive company... but it will take time."

He said: "I think in 10 or 15 years, we will be talking about Boeing, Airbus and COMAC... but there is no doubt that they will become important market participants in the future."

Analysts point out that the Asia-Pacific region indeed needs another aircraft manufacturer.

The report states that Asian airlines are under pressure from delayed deliveries by Boeing and Airbus, and there are also engine shortages and broader supply chain bottlenecks.

Uncertainties brought by tariff policies and trade tensions have further complicated the challenges faced by manufacturers, affecting procurement and development strategies in the region.

Data from the International Air Transport Association shows that global airlines are waiting longer than ever for new aircraft deliveries, leading to an increase in the average age of fleets and higher operating costs due to older planes being less fuel-efficient.

Walsh said that if aircraft supply is secured, Asian airlines could achieve double-digit growth by 2026. "Airlines are deeply troubled, and the wait time from order to delivery is approximately seven years."

The report points out that for this reason, COMAC is becoming another option for many airlines in the Asia-Pacific region.

Currently, hundreds of COMAC-made aircraft are in operation within China, and their planes are also operating in Laos, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Royal Brunei Airlines has placed a large order with COMAC, and Cambodia plans to purchase about 20 C909 aircraft.

Subash Menon, General Secretary of the Asia-Pacific Airlines Association, said: "Our supply chain needs more suppliers. The problem in this industry is that the supply chain is dominated by oligopolies, sometimes even duopolies."

He said: "We have been waiting for a long time. We welcome the emergence of COMAC. We especially need more suppliers in the Asia-Pacific region." (Translated by Hu Guanghe)

On February 3, a COMAC C919 aircraft performed a flight demonstration on the first day of the 10th Singapore Air Show. (Xinhua News Agency)

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7603656523474027018/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."