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Much of the commercial aviation news these days revolves around Airbus and Boeing, with Embraer also receiving some attention. However, the COMAC C919 from China remains relatively unknown. The aircraft is less visible at airports worldwide and is operated by only a few airlines with small fleets.
The narrative often compares the C919 to the Airbus and Boeing duopoly but lacks substantial data on its operational efficiency and reliability. This may be due to factors such as limited certification outside China, minimal service history, and no operators outside China. Simple Flying explored what is known about China Eastern Airlines' operations of the C919 to provide insights into this aircraft.
The story of the COMAC C919 began with the launch of the program in 2008 by COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), a state-owned entity based in Shanghai. The goal was to build a narrowbody airliner to challenge Airbus A320 and Boeing 737's market dominance. CBS News reported that "a major focus of this strategy centered on building an indigenous Chinese-built commercial aircraft designed to compete with the duopoly of western aerospace."
