Boeing's well-documented troubles in 2024 appear to have allowed an unlikely competitor to jostle for the top in the aviation business: the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. Commonly known as COMAC, the Chinese state-run aerospace manufacturer hopes to take on the Western powerhouses Boeing and Airbus. And it's making some inroads.
COMAC is looking to "position itself as a viable option for single-aisle jets, as companies like Boeing and Airbus grapple with a backlog of orders," Fortune said. It's offering two main products: the C919 passenger jet and a smaller, regional aircraft called the ARJ21. Both jets made their first flights out of mainland China last December.Â
Still, there's a reason "challenging the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing has seemed remote, if not impossible," the Financial Times said. And construction of the C919 "still relies on some key components made in Europe and the U.S."Â
The C919 is "not going to rock the boat in particular," Christian Scherer, the CEO of Airbus' commercial business, said to CNBC. The aircraft is "not very different" from current market offerings, and the aviation market is "large enough for competition. We welcome the competition."
While it is on the ascent, COMAC "still has a long way to go before it can compete with aircraft from market leaders," The Associated Press said. Most of COMAC's upcoming orders are from Chinese airlines, Alton Aviation's Mabel Kwan told AP. And to "have a sustainable future, COMAC must demonstrate that they are able to go beyond Chinese shores." | 
