Airbus’ edge over Boeing in China under threat as Comac’s new C919 jet readies for take off
- Both Airbus and Boeing assemble jets in China, largely political moves to help them capture a share of the huge domestic market
- But with China’s C919 passenger jet set for certification later this year, they will have to get used to sharing the narrow-body plane market
Despite investing heavily in aircraft assembly facilities in China, Airbus may soon see its edge over rival Boeing eaten away as the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) is expected to enter the narrow-body plane market with its C919 jet next year.
Both Airbus and Boeing assemble jets in China for the domestic market, savvy political moves to help them each carve out a portion of the nation’s vast and rapidly growing aviation market. But they will soon have to share the spotlight with Comac, a company that has a built-in advantage in dealing with Chinese airlines.
In November 2020, Boeing estimated Chinese airlines would acquire 8,600 new aeroplanes valued at US$1.4 trillion and commercial aviation services valued at $1.7 trillion over the next 20 years. Both Boeing and Airbus have stepped up their presence in China to try to secure a piece of the pie.
