Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order

Post originally Published May 8, 2024 || Last Updated May 8, 2024

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Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - China's Aviation Giant Embraces Homegrown C919 Jets


China's state-owned airline, China Southern, has placed a significant order for 100 homegrown C919 jets, a move that underscores the country's ambitions to challenge the dominant Airbus-Boeing duopoly in the commercial aircraft market.

The C919, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is set to start deliveries from 2024 to 2031, providing a substantial boost to the aircraft manufacturer.

While the C919 is marketed as a "homegrown" aircraft, it heavily relies on foreign-sourced components, raising questions about its true level of domestic technology.

The plane's maiden flight outside of mainland China, which took place in Hong Kong in 2023, was seen as a crucial step in COMAC's efforts to expand its global reach and compete with established players in the single-aisle aircraft segment.

The C919 is China's first domestically-developed large commercial passenger aircraft, marking a significant milestone in the country's aviation industry.

The aircraft's design incorporates advanced technologies, including a fly-by-wire control system and a lightweight composite fuselage, which contribute to its improved fuel efficiency and performance compared to previous Chinese-made airliners.

Despite its "homegrown" status, the C919 relies on a range of foreign-sourced components, including engines and avionics, reflecting the global nature of the aviation industry.

The C919's maiden flight outside of mainland China in Hong Kong showcases COMAC's ambition to expand its international presence and challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle aircraft market.

China Southern Airlines' order of 100 C919 jets, valued at $8 billion, represents a major vote of confidence in the aircraft's capabilities and is expected to provide a substantial boost to COMAC's production plans.

The C919's debut at the Singapore Airshow is anticipated to draw significant attention from the global aviation community, as it represents China's latest effort to establish itself as a significant player in the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry.

What else is in this post?

  1. Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - China's Aviation Giant Embraces Homegrown C919 Jets
  2. Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Ambitious $99 Billion Order Boosts Domestic Aircraft Industry
  3. Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Production Challenges Amid Rising Demand for C919 Narrowbodies
  4. Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Shift Towards Homegrown Tech in Chinese Aviation Sector
  5. Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Fleet Modernization - China Southern Phases In C919 Jets
  6. Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Rivalry Intensifies as Chinese Aircraft Competes with Boeing, Airbus

Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Ambitious $99 Billion Order Boosts Domestic Aircraft Industry


China Eastern Airlines has placed a massive $10 billion order for 100 COMAC C919 aircraft, the largest order yet for China's homegrown narrowbody jet.

This order, combined with previous large orders from Air China and China Southern Airlines, underscores China's ambitions to reduce its reliance on foreign-made airliners and challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the commercial aviation market.

The C919, with a catalog price of $99 million per plane, is seen as a critical part of China's strategy to build up its domestic aircraft manufacturing capabilities and reduce its dependence on foreign technology.

The catalog price for each C919 aircraft is $99 million, making China Southern Airlines' order for 100 planes worth a staggering $9 billion at list prices.

The C919 was originally projected to cost around $50 million per plane, indicating the final price tag has nearly doubled due to the incorporation of more advanced technologies.

China's "big three" state-owned airlines, China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern, have placed a combined 294 orders for Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft, but only 20 each for the domestically-developed C919.

The C919's maiden commercial flight in May 2023 was a significant milestone, showcasing China's ambition to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle aircraft market.

Air China has ordered the extended-range version of the C919, which is approximately $9 million more expensive than the basic version, indicating the airline's confidence in the aircraft's capabilities.

The delivery of C919 to Air China is set to start in 2024, posing potential production capacity challenges for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) as it ramps up production to meet the growing demand.

The C919's debut at the prestigious Singapore Airshow is expected to draw widespread attention from the global aviation community, as it represents China's latest effort to establish itself as a major player in the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry.

Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Production Challenges Amid Rising Demand for C919 Narrowbodies


Despite the significant orders for the C919 narrowbody aircraft from Chinese airlines, the production of the planes is still facing challenges.

Analysts remain skeptical about COMAC's ability to meet the growing demand and reach its targeted annual production capacity of 150 C919s in the next five years.

The C919 still falls short of the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo in terms of range, capacity, and other features, posing potential challenges for its competitiveness in the market.

The C919 jet's certification and production have been slowed by tough US export rules, making it harder for Comac to meet its targets.

Despite these challenges, China Eastern Airlines has placed the largest-ever order for the C919, with 100 aircraft valued at over $8 billion.

The C919 has received over 1,200 orders from 28 customers worldwide, but over 50% of commercial jets operating in China are still Boeing aircraft.

Comac aims to ramp up C919 production to 150 aircraft annually within the next 5 years, an ambitious goal given the current production challenges.

The first C919 was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in late 2022, after delays in the certification process pushed back the entry into service.

Analysts remain skeptical about Comac's ability to meet its production capacity targets for the C919, citing the ongoing technical and regulatory hurdles.

While seen as a challenge to the Airbus-Boeing duopoly, the C919 still lags behind the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo in terms of range, capacity, and other key features.

Despite the production challenges, China expects the C919 to make around 14 domestic deliveries by 2040, underscoring the country's long-term ambitions for the aircraft.

Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Shift Towards Homegrown Tech in Chinese Aviation Sector


China's aviation sector is increasingly prioritizing the development and utilization of indigenous technology, as evident from the significant order of 100 Comac C919 aircraft by China Southern Airlines.

This order marks a notable shift towards homegrown technology in the Chinese aviation industry, which aims to reduce reliance on foreign aircraft manufacturers and establish greater self-sufficiency.

The commitment by China Southern Airlines to the C919 highlights the Chinese government's broader strategy to strengthen the country's technological capabilities and enhance its position in the global aviation landscape.

The C919 narrowbody jet, China's first indigenously designed and manufactured passenger aircraft, has received over 1,200 orders from 28 customers worldwide, showcasing the country's ambitious goal to challenge the Boeing-Airbus duopoly.

China Southern Airlines' order of 100 C919 jets, valued at $8 billion, represents the largest single order for the domestic aircraft, signaling the airline's confidence in the plane's capabilities.

The catalog price for each C919 aircraft is $99 million, almost double the original $50 million projection, indicating the incorporation of more advanced technologies to compete with foreign counterparts.

Despite its "homegrown" status, the C919 relies on a range of foreign-sourced components, including engines and avionics, highlighting the global nature of the aviation industry.

China's "big three" state-owned airlines, China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern, have placed a combined 294 orders for Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft, but only 20 each for the domestically-developed C919.

The C919's maiden commercial flight in May 2023 was a significant milestone, showcasing China's ambition to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle aircraft market.

Analysts remain skeptical about the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC)'s ability to meet the growing demand for the C919 and reach its targeted annual production capacity of 150 aircraft within the next five years.

The C919 still falls short of the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo in terms of range, capacity, and other features, posing potential challenges for its competitiveness in the global market.

Despite these challenges, China expects the C919 to make around 14 domestic deliveries by 2040, underscoring the country's long-term ambitions to establish a strong presence in the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry.

Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Fleet Modernization - China Southern Phases In C919 Jets


China Southern Airlines has significantly modernized its fleet by placing a massive order for 100 Comac C919 narrowbody jets, a move that underscores China's ambitious efforts to challenge the dominance of established aircraft manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing.

The deliveries of these new Chinese-made aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2024 and extend through 2031, providing a substantial boost to the country's homegrown aviation industry.

While the C919 represents a milestone in China's technological capabilities, it still lags behind its foreign counterparts in terms of features and capabilities, posing potential challenges for its competitiveness in the global market.

The C919 jet's catalog price has nearly doubled from the original $50 million projection to $99 million per aircraft, indicating the incorporation of more advanced technologies to compete with foreign counterparts.

China's "big three" state-owned airlines, China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern, have placed a combined 294 orders for Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft, but only 20 each for the domestically-developed C919.

The C919's maiden commercial flight in May 2023 was a significant milestone, showcasing China's ambition to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle aircraft market.

Air China has ordered the extended-range version of the C919, which is approximately $9 million more expensive than the basic version, indicating the airline's confidence in the aircraft's capabilities.

The delivery of C919 to Air China is set to start in 2024, posing potential production capacity challenges for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) as it ramps up production to meet the growing demand.

The C919 still falls short of the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo in terms of range, capacity, and other features, posing potential challenges for its competitiveness in the global market.

Despite these challenges, China expects the C919 to make around 14 domestic deliveries by 2040, underscoring the country's long-term ambitions to establish a strong presence in the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry.

The C919 jet's certification and production have been slowed by tough US export rules, making it harder for Comac to meet its targets.

Comac aims to ramp up C919 production to 150 aircraft annually within the next 5 years, an ambitious goal given the current production challenges.

The first C919 was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in late 2022, after delays in the certification process pushed back the entry into service.

Inside Look China Southern Airlines Doubles Down on Domestic Aircraft with 100 C919 Order - Rivalry Intensifies as Chinese Aircraft Competes with Boeing, Airbus


The rivalry in the commercial aircraft market is intensifying as China's homegrown C919 jet competes with established players like Boeing and Airbus.

The C919, China's first domestically-developed large passenger aircraft, marks a significant milestone for the country's aviation industry and its ambitions to challenge the global dominance of American and European aircraft manufacturers.

The C919's catalog price has nearly doubled from the original $50 million projection to $99 million per aircraft, indicating the incorporation of more advanced technologies to compete with foreign counterparts.

Despite its "homegrown" status, the C919 relies on a range of foreign-sourced components, including engines and avionics, reflecting the global nature of the aviation industry.

China's "big three" state-owned airlines, China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern, have placed a combined 294 orders for Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft, but only 20 each for the domestically-developed C919.

The C919 still falls short of the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo in terms of range, capacity, and other features, posing potential challenges for its competitiveness in the global market.

Comac aims to ramp up C919 production to 150 aircraft annually within the next 5 years, an ambitious goal given the current production challenges.

The C919 jet's certification and production have been slowed by tough US export rules, making it harder for Comac to meet its targets.

Despite the significant orders for the C919, analysts remain skeptical about Comac's ability to meet the growing demand and reach its targeted annual production capacity.

Air China has ordered the extended-range version of the C919, which is approximately $9 million more expensive than the basic version, indicating the airline's confidence in the aircraft's capabilities.

The C919's maiden commercial flight in May 2023 was a significant milestone, showcasing China's ambition to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle aircraft market.

The first C919 was delivered to China Eastern Airlines in late 2022, after delays in the certification process pushed back the entry into service.

China expects the C919 to make around 14 domestic deliveries by 2040, underscoring the country's long-term ambitions to establish a strong presence in the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry.
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