China’s Comac Steps Onto the Global Stage as It Challenges Aviation’s Biggest Names

Amid rows of aircraft models, mock cockpits and high-tech aviation displays at the Singapore Airshow, one exhibitor has been attracting outsized attention: Comac, China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer.

The company has come a long way since its narrow-body C919 passenger jet made its first appearance outside mainland China two years ago. Designed to rival the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, the aircraft is now being positioned for markets beyond China, with Southeast Asia firmly in its sights.

Comac says the airshow provides an opportunity to introduce itself to airlines across the Asia-Pacific region, the world’s fastest-growing aviation market. The timing is notable. Airlines are struggling with prolonged delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus, compounded by engine shortages, supply chain disruptions and uncertainty around global trade and tariffs.

Industry leaders believe Comac could eventually become a serious contender – though not overnight.

“I think in time, Comac will be a global competitor, but it will take time,” Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said on the sidelines of the event. “Ten or fifteen years from now, we may well be talking about Boeing, Airbus and Comac as the three major players.”

Analysts say the region is in urgent need of additional aircraft manufacturers. Asia-Pacific airlines are facing longer waits for new planes than ever before, pushing up fleet ages and operating costs as older aircraft burn more fuel. According to IATA, the gap between placing an order and receiving an aircraft now averages about seven years.

Walsh said airlines in the region could see double-digit growth by 2026 if aircraft availability improved. “It’s incredibly frustrating for airlines,” he noted.

That frustration is helping Comac gain traction. The company says it has delivered more than 200 C909 and C919 aircraft so far, with roughly a quarter operating outside China in countries including Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. Brunei-based GallopAir has placed a major order, while Cambodia has announced plans to acquire about 20 aircraft.

Industry groups have welcomed the prospect of a new supplier.

“The problem with this industry is that the supply chain is an oligopoly, sometimes even a duopoly,” said Subhas Menon, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). “We have been waiting for this for a long time. Comac is a welcome addition.”

Strong backing from the Chinese government and competitive pricing could make Comac’s jets particularly attractive to low-cost carriers in emerging markets. Mike Szucs, chief executive of Philippine budget airline Cebu Pacific, said more competition would benefit the industry, though he noted that certification remains a key hurdle.

Comac is also pursuing approval from European regulators, with test flights of the C919 already under way. Certification would open the door to sales in Europe, but regulators say the process could stretch into the late 2020s or early 2030s.

Technical challenges remain, including integrating Chinese and Western components, software systems and flight controls. Beyond that, Comac will need to build global maintenance networks and pilot training systems – areas where Boeing and Airbus benefit from decades of established infrastructure.

The Chinese manufacturer also faces competition beyond the two industry giants. Brazil’s Embraer has secured orders from airlines such as Singapore’s Scoot, Virgin Australia and Japan’s ANA, strengthening its footprint in the region.

Meanwhile, Boeing and Airbus continue to signal that delivery delays may soon ease, offering some relief to airlines that have endured years of disruptions. “We might be seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” Cebu Pacific’s Szucs said.

Questions also remain around Comac’s order book. The company has said it has received more than 1,000 orders for the C919 from Chinese airlines, but only a small number of aircraft have been delivered so far. As a state-owned company, Comac does not disclose information in the same way as publicly listed rivals, making independent verification difficult.

For now, Boeing and Airbus continue to dominate the skies over Asia-Pacific. But as demand surges and supply constraints persist, Comac’s emergence suggests that the global aviation market may be heading toward a more competitive future.