China’s COMAC Aims to Break Airbus and Boeing’s Market Hold, Says DAE Leasing Chief

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Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies, sees Chinese manufacturer COMAC as a potential game-changer in the global aviation market. DAE’s CEO Firoz Tarapore shared with Reuters that over the next decade, COMAC could disrupt the longstanding duopoly of Airbus and Boeing in the passenger jet industry.

Currently, Airbus and Boeing dominate the market, supplying the majority of the world’s airliners. However, Airbus is grappling with production delays despite a surge in orders, and Boeing has faced regulatory scrutiny following recent safety incidents. These challenges provide an opening for new competitors like COMAC.

COMAC’s main competitor to Airbus’ A320 and Boeing’s 737 MAX is the narrow-body C919 jet, which Tarapore describes as a “perfectly fine aircraft.” Although COMAC’s aircraft currently operate predominantly within China and with one Indonesian airline, the company is actively seeking certification from European aviation authorities and aims to expand its international customer base.

Industry insiders, however, remain skeptical about COMAC’s ability to compete globally in the near future, citing the need for more efficient aircraft and crucial certifications from major international regulators.

Despite these challenges, the demand for aircraft in China and neighboring regions remains high, suggesting that COMAC could make significant inroads. This is especially pertinent as the global travel industry rebounds post-pandemic, leading to a rush in new aircraft orders and highlighting issues in the aerospace supply chain that have caused delays in aircraft deliveries.

Narrowbody Aircraft

  • ARJ21 (ARJ21 700, ARJ21 900) is a twin‑engine, single aisle, short-range jet, seating 70−105. It first flew on 28 November 2008, and first delivery on November 28th, 2015 to Chengdu Airlines.
  • C919 (C919-100ER, C919-100STD) is a twin‑engine, single aisle, short- to medium-range, seating 150−190. It first flew on May 5, 2017 and first delivery on May 28th, 2023 to China Eastern Airlines.

Widebody Aircraft

  • C929 (C929-500, C929-600, C929-700) is a twin‑engine, twin aisle, long-range jet, seating 250−290. Currently in detailed design stage, first flight planned for early 2030s.
  • C939 is a twin‑engine, twin aisle, long-range jet, seating 400. Currently in preliminary design stage, first flight planned for early 2030s.

Airbus has already indicated that it has no available production slots for its A320 series until the end of the decade, while Boeing is embroiled in a safety crisis that has affected its production rates and could potentially lead to structural and cultural reforms within the company.

Tarapore remains optimistic about COMAC’s future, predicting that in 30 years, the industry will transition from a duopoly to a more competitive market with COMAC playing a significant role. This shift could alter the dynamics of aircraft leasing and manufacturing, according to DAE, which currently manages a fleet of 500 aircraft and has faced its own challenges with delayed deliveries from Boeing.

As the aviation sector continues to evolve, the potential rise of COMAC could introduce new opportunities and challenges, reshaping the competitive landscape dominated for so long by Airbus and Boeing.

Related news: https://airguide.info/?s=comac, Related news: https://airguide.info/?s=C919

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com

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