UK media: Can "Comac" challenge Boeing and Airbus?

At the Singapore Airshow, the exhibition hall displayed various aircraft scale models, simulators, and interactive equipment for the latest commercial aircraft and aviation technology.

One booth attracted particular attention: China Commercial Aircraft (Comac) – a state-owned Chinese aircraft manufacturer. Since the C919 aircraft first left Chinese territory and arrived in Singapore two years ago, the company has made significant progress.

The design goal of this aircraft is to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, and it is actively targeting markets outside of China.

As Comac itself stated, "Comac is now focusing on the Southeast Asian aviation market."

Amidst delays in delivery and supply chain pressures faced by airlines, this airshow presents an opportunity for Comac to establish its position in the Asia-Pacific, the world's fastest-growing aviation market, and become a potential competitor to Airbus and Boeing.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh told BBC: "I think, in time, Comac will become a global competitor... but it takes time."

"I think in 10 to 15 years, we will be talking about Boeing, Airbus, and Comac... there is no doubt that it will have an important place in the future."

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

Airlines in this region are under pressure from delayed deliveries and supply chain tightness, and the problem is further complicated by engine shortages and broader supply chain bottlenecks.

Uncertainties surrounding tariffs and trade tensions also present more challenges to manufacturing, affecting procurement and regional growth strategies.

Data from IATA shows that airlines worldwide are waiting longer than ever for new planes, which leads to an increase in the average age of fleets and higher operating costs due to lower fuel efficiency of older aircraft.

Walsh said that if the fleet was sufficient, Asia-Pacific airlines could have seen double-digit growth in 2026. "It's very frustrating for airlines. The average time from order to delivery is about seven years."

This is why Comac has become another viable option for many Asia-Pacific airlines.

Currently, over 150 Comac aircraft are in service within China, and their planes have already been deployed in Laos, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Brunei's GallopAir has ordered a large number of Comac aircraft, and Cambodia plans to purchase about 20 of them.

"We need more suppliers to join the supply chain," said Subhas Menon, Director General of the Asia Pacific Airlines Association (AAPA), "the issue in this industry is that the supply chain is dominated by oligopolies, sometimes even duopolies."

"We've been waiting for this day for a long time. The entry of Comac is welcome. We especially need more suppliers in the Asia-Pacific market," he added.

With strong government support, the company is in a favorable position, and its lower prices make its aircraft more attractive to budget airlines in emerging markets.

Mike Szucs, CEO of Philippine low-cost airline Cebu Pacific, told BBC: "We welcome all new entrants in the future. We hope to see more competition. Comac still needs to complete its certification process, and at some point in the 2030s, it will become a product that is very appealing to us and other airlines."

In addition to expanding in the Asia-Pacific, Comac is also seeking European certification, and relevant regulatory authorities have begun test flights of its C919 model. Once certified, it can sell to European airlines.

However, the road ahead remains long.

European regulators said the certification process may not be completed until 2028 or even 2031. In addition, integrating components from both Western and Chinese sources, flight control systems, and software also poses technical challenges for international orders.

Maintenance and support infrastructure is another challenge, as well as pilot training – these are advantages accumulated by Boeing and Airbus over decades.

In the Asia-Pacific, Comac faces competition not only from Boeing and Airbus.

E Brazil Aircraft Industry (Embraer) has already established a foothold in the region, securing orders from Singapore's low-cost carrier Scoot, Australia's Virgin Australia, and Japan's ANA.

At the same time, Boeing and Airbus maintain a strong presence at the Singapore Airshow and throughout the Asia-Pacific. The two manufacturers have told local airlines that the long-standing delivery delay issues are beginning to improve.

Szucs of Cebu Pacific said, "We are happy to say that we may have seen the light at the end of the tunnel."

There are still questions about the number of orders for Comac. The company claims that the C919 has received over 1,000 orders from Chinese airlines, but so far only a dozen have been delivered.

Unless Comac can resolve some or all of the above challenges, Boeing and Airbus are likely to continue to dominate the skies in the Asia-Pacific.

Source: BBC

Original: toutiao.com/article/1856265693935628/

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