China is currently developing a new passenger jet called the C929, with hopes of entering the global mid-sized and large aircraft market. This market is currently dominated by Boeing and Airbus. The C929 is expected to have 280 seats and a maximum travel distance of 12,000 kilometers, making it significantly larger than China’s previous domestic narrowbody passenger jet, the C919. The first delivery of the C929 is projected to be in 2028 or 2029.
The concept for the C929 was initially formulated in the early 2010s. In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to make it a joint project between China’s state-owned manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (COMAC) and a Russian company during his visit to China. However, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2022 changed things.
A COMAC executive revealed that China was now working on the project independently due to concerns about receiving engine components from Western companies if Russia remained involved. It would also complicate efforts to sell the aircraft overseas.
China has prioritized its aviation and space industries as part of its industrial policy called Made in China 2025. As a result, they have been supporting domestic passenger aircraft development. In recent years, COMAC successfully introduced two jets: the ARJ21 with 90 seats and the mid-sized C919 with 160 seats.
While Chinese airlines have placed over 1,000 orders for their mainstay aircraft, most orders are still domestic. To expand sales globally, rigorous testing for safety certification from European and U.S authorities is required.
Boeing has faced challenges with its mainstay aircraft due to quality issues following accidents which resulted in decreased orders for their Boeing MAX series planes. This situation may impact Europe and U.S.’s dominance in this industry.
To improve competitiveness globally, experts suggest that China will likely focus on increasing sales and operational experience within countries it has close ties with before expanding into Europe and United States markets.