China mulls over revised timeline for Comac C919 aircraft

The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac) is working out a revised timeline to launch its Comac C919, the country’s largest domestically produced aircraft.

The proposed move is expected give Comac rivals, Boeing Co and Airbus, time to introduce their improved single-aisle aircraft.

Despite its interest to develop a commercial aircraft in line with the US and Europe to compete the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, the lack of experience and local industry-specific talent are affecting the project.

Sources from Comac and its Western suppliers of systems told Reuters that the Chinese company is still working out with the complex project.

With the new C919, Comac is expected to eventually challenge the Airbus/Boeing dominance in the aerospace industry.

However, the expected delay would mean that the aircraft will enter the market several years after the upgraded A320neo and Boeing 737 Max aircraft arrive.

The aircraft was initially scheduled to take first flight next year which has now been postponed to 2015, which delays the delivery to 2017 or 2018.

Comac has already received orders for 380 C919 aircraft, mostly from Chinese airlines and leasing firms backed by banks including Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Bank of Communications.

The Chinese company is taking its time in the development phase of the project to ensure the aircraft will comply with international testing and certification standards, the new agency reported citing undisclosed sources familiar with Comac’s strategy.

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Image: Comac C919 is China’s largest domestically-produced aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Kentaro Iemoto.