With China’s C919 flying high, factory visits aim to replicate Boeing’s branding success
Taking a page out of rivals’ playbooks, China’s Comac wants to turn its Shanghai plane factory into a tourism hotspot
China’s flagship civilian aircraft maker, which is now competing with Airbus and Boeing in the home market, is weighing plans to turn its C919 factory compound into an industrial tourism hotspot and base of patriotism education, according to a company source.
The manufacturer was inspired by how Boeing made its Everett Production Facility – known as the world’s largest building by volume – into a popular tourist attraction in the US state of Washington, the source said.
Comac kicked off trial operations of a large-aircraft technology “camp” for teenagers in September. The study programme, organised by China Travel Service, is open on certain weekdays, with an admission price of around 600 yuan (US$82).
Both Boeing and Airbus offer tours of their facilities, and these are very popular
The camp includes visits to the C919 aircraft assembly site, “experience classes” and on-site interactions with test pilots, the manufacturer said in a statement, adding that the scheme offers “vivid on-site experience and in-depth professional exploration”.
