China airliners

With China’s C919 flying high, factory visits aim to replicate Boeing’s success

20 Nov 2024 - 10:48AMvideocam

US, European plane-part giants aspire to power China’s widebody C929 ambitions

15 Nov 2024 - 4:10PMvideocam

Explainer | China’s 4 commercial jets unboxed: from the rebranded C909 to a futuristic C939

More details about China’s home-grown passenger planes emerge at Zhuhai air show, with new sales and lofty aviation ambitions on display.

20 Nov 2024 - 10:49AMvideocam

A crowd looks on as China’ss domestically produced C909 passenger jet lands at an air show in Nanchang in the central Jiangxi province. Photo: AFP

China’s widebody C929 jet lands first buyer at top-flight Zhuhai air show

The home-grown C929, still under development, was the subject of a preliminary purchase agreement at China’s premier air show.

15 Nov 2024 - 4:11PMvideocam

China’s home-grown C919 reaches new heights with flight to ‘roof of the world’

C919 ‘smoothly landed’ at one of the highest airports in the world in western China on Thursday ahead of a series of ‘research and development test flights’.

25 Sep 2024 - 6:20PM

Is China’s first home-grown passenger jet profitable? Analysts weigh in

China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines have all taken delivery of the home-grown C919 narrowbody passenger jet.

25 Sep 2024 - 6:24PM

(240829) -- GUANGZHOU, Aug. 29, 2024 (Xinhua) -- The first C919 aircraft delivered to China Southern Airlines receives a ceremonial water salute on its arrival at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Photo: Xinhua

As Boeing flails, does China’s C919 jet have ‘window of opportunity’?

Home-grown airliner is ‘pillar and pioneer’ in China’s race to rival Western aviation giants, but challenges remain, state media says.

1 Sep 2024 - 9:48PMvideocam

China’s C919 jet gets R&D lift as Comac, HKUST agree to personnel partnership

China’s state-owned aerospace manufacturer has agreed to personnel training and exchanges with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

21 Aug 2024 - 5:31PMvideocam

Waiting in the wings: Shanghai’s plane swap plan likely includes China’s C919

In a recent plan suggesting its airlines replace their older aircraft by 2027, Shanghai has opened the door for newer models – like China’s home-grown planes – to repopulate the city’s sizeable fleets.

9 Aug 2024 - 6:30PMvideocam

Shanghai’s government has encouraged airlines based in the city to begin replacing the older models in their fleets. Photo: Weibo

Exclusive | After regulators’ ‘positive’ response, China’s C919 edges closer to EU landing

Following a hands-on visit, positive feedback from regulators has raised hope China’s C919 jet may be cleared for operations in Europe.

10 Aug 2024 - 2:10AMvideocam

China’s C919 passenger jet is the first of what Beijing hopes will be many home-grown planes running domestic and international routes. Photo: AFP

China wants more overseas buyers for C919. Can Southeast Asia help it soar?

Indonesia and Brunei are firmly on China’s radar as it seeks to expand the reach of its C919 and ARJ21 passenger jets.

30 Jul 2024 - 10:29AMvideocam

Aviation

Explainer | Here are the 4 civilian aircraft behind China’s sky-high aviation ambitions

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China has put two passenger planes in the air and has lofty ambitions for home-grown production.

30 Jul 2024 - 9:23AMvideocam

China’s aircraft nexus pushes to ‘greatly improve’ C919 production

Shanghai is seeking to usher in a boom in aircraft manufacturing and development with a raft of fresh policies to support production of China’s C919.

17 Jul 2024 - 7:30PMvideocam

Shanghai has vowed to form a world-leading industrial chain comprising 60 key enterprises by the end of 2026, with investment exceeding 70 billion yuan (US$9.7 billion). Photo: CAAC

Exclusive | With planned visit from EU regulators, China’s C919 jet noses towards approval

In a step towards international certification for China’s C919 passenger jet, European officials will make a visit next month to get a closer look at the aircraft and its assembly.

25 Jun 2024 - 11:44AMvideocam

A planned visit from European regulators and technicians will continue the certification process for China’s home-grown C919 jet. Photo: Xinhua

China readies plane research renewal as C919 celebrates first year of flights

After one year of commercial flights for its home-grown C919, China has established a new research fund to fuel the development of new planes and the domestic production of parts to keep them running.

18 Jun 2024 - 4:41AMvideocam

Editorial | First year of smooth flying for China’s C919 passenger jet

While the C919 still has far to go before it can seriously consider itself a rival to Boeing or Airbus, the commercial case for its success is strong.

8 Jun 2024 - 5:58AMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Shanghai-bound Hong Kong students on C919 jet’s first commercial flight from city

Chief Secretary Eric Chan says at C919 jet take-off ceremony that flight will be an ‘unforgettable experience’ for Shanghai-bound Hong Kong internship students.

4 Jun 2024 - 12:48PM

China’s first home-grown narrowbody jet prepares for its first commercial flight from Hong Kong on Saturday. Photo: Facebook/Transport and Logistics Bureau

Inside China’s C919, and why it’s great for short passengers – a reporter’s take

Production of China’s home-grown narrowbody jet is getting big upgrades and offering intensive training to pilots and cabin crew, while steps are under way to make the C919 ‘an even more Chinese jet’.

29 May 2024 - 9:14AMvideocam

Why China ‘has a lot of convincing to do’ before its C919 jet flies overseas

The C919, China’s home-grown commercial jet, has completed a year of passenger flights. Will it receive airworthiness certification from the Western countries currently sanctioning trade and tech in other fields?

29 May 2024 - 9:13AMvideocam

Explainer | Sky highlights: 13 key moments from the first year of China’s C919 passenger jet

China’s C919 home-grown, narrowbody passenger jet completed its first commercial flight between Shanghai and Beijing on May 28, 2023.

29 May 2024 - 9:14AMvideocam

The C919 – China’s home-grown, narrowbody passenger jet. Photo: Xinhua

Aviation

Exclusive | In for the long haul: China starts designing new C939 jet after C919’s success

With its narrowbody C919 flying regular routes and orders pouring in, China has already started design work on the next generation of its domestically produced commercial aircraft – the C939.

14 May 2024 - 9:19AMvideocam

China’s Comac has already begun design work on the next generation of domestically produced airliners after its success with the narrowbody C919. Photo: CAAC

China’s C919s to roll off line faster, but reliance on engine imports poses risk

A construction firm under C919 maker Comac announced plans to build a big new construction zone in Shanghai, with an assembly plant and parts warehouse, but then the online post was suddenly deleted.

8 May 2024 - 7:00PMvideocam

China’s C919 passes ‘deep level’ safety tests, ramps up Boeing rivalry

A crew of more than 60 checked a China Eastern Airlines C919 during four days of tests in Shanghai.

2 May 2024 - 5:38PMvideocam

C919 mega-purchase by Air China lifts home-grown jet in competition with Boeing

New deal adds years of additional business for China’s state-owned manufacturer and may boost investments while further fuelling purchases of the narrowbody plane.

29 Apr 2024 - 9:02PMvideocam

Air China, the nation’s flagship airline, has agreed to buy 100 domestically made C919 passenger jets. Photo: Xinhua

China flies in brainpower to get widebody C929 aircraft off the ground

China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer held a conference ahead of a week-long seminar to seek progress with its C929 passenger jet, which is due to rival the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 models for long-haul routes.

17 Apr 2024 - 6:26PMvideocam

The C929 would have around 280-400 seats and a range of 12,000km (7,456 miles), according to Comac. Photo: AFP

China’s home-grown C929 passenger jet enters ‘crucial’ development stage

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China official says the ‘overall technical scheme’ of the C929 ‘has been determined’, with the first middle section of the widebody passenger jet set to be delivered by September 2027.

27 Mar 2024 - 8:35PMvideocam