By 2035, COMAC aims to capture one-fifth of the global narrow-body aircraft market and one-third of the Chinese market, with plans to sell 2,000 C919 aircraft over the next 20 years. FlightGlobal predicts that the Shanghai production facility will manufacture 1,209 aircraft, including 687 standard versions and 522 extended variants.
The formation of an order backlog for the COMAC C919 from China’s three largest airlines – China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern – signals the Chinese aviation industry’s readiness to significantly increase the output of these aircraft. Under confirmed firm orders, these airlines are expected to operate no fewer than 100 C919s each by 2031.
Scaling up production capacity is key to fulfilling the triple-digit orders from the nation’s major airlines. COMAC delivered nine C919 aircraft in 2024, with plans to deliver 30 units to customers in 2025, followed by a ramp-up to an annual production rate of 50 aircraft, according to Reuters. The expansion of the Shanghai production base, as reported in mid-December, is designed to ensure the production capacity required to meet planned output targets.
Currently, 16 Chinese-made narrow-body airliners are in operation, conducting flights within China and, since January 2025, to Hong Kong. COMAC has set a target to reach an annual production capacity of 150 C919 aircraft by 2028, while consultancy firm Cirium forecasts delivery of 27 of this type of aircraft this year.
Developing COMAC’s production capabilities entails not only increasing the output of the C919 but also actively exploring new markets. Obtaining certification from foreign aviation regulators is one of the key focus areas for the corporation, enabling them to expand delivery to new geographies. International certification of the aircraft reflects COMAC’s aspiration to compete in the global market with Airbus and Boeing, which produce dozens of A320/321 and B737 aircraft each month.
The proactive promotion of the C919 in the Chinese domestic market, combined with preparations for entering the international market, defines COMAC’s growth strategy, indicating the corporation’s ambition to establish itself among the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers. However, the design of the C919 is critically reliant on component supplies from the US, Germany, and France.
Aluminium-lithium alloys account for 8.8% of the structure, while composite materials make up 12%. The airframe will be primarily constructed from aluminium alloys. It was initially intended that the centre wing box would be made from polymer composites, but this was later abandoned to simplify the design.
In parallel with ramping up production of the narrow-body C919, COMAC is also working on the wide-body C929 aircraft. The C929 project is currently in the conceptual design and supplier selection phase. The corporation plans to transition to the detailed design phase in the near future.