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ICAO C919
COMAC C-919
COMAC TravelerPulse profile
China's first domestically developed narrow-body airliner.
First flight
2017
Category
Narrow-body jet
Seating
158–192 passengers
Range
4,075 km
Engines
Two CFM International LEAP-1C turbofans
Status
In service
The COMAC C919 is a single-aisle, narrow-body commercial jetliner developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). Designed to compete directly with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX families, it seats up to 192 passengers in a single-class configuration and targets the high-volume short- to medium-haul market.
Development began in the late 2000s, with the aircraft making its maiden flight on 5 May 2017 after several delays. Chinese aviation authority CAAC type certification was awarded in September 2022, and the aircraft entered commercial service with China Eastern Airlines in May 2023.
Although marketed as a domestic achievement, the C919 relies heavily on Western-supplied systems, including CFM LEAP-1C engines jointly produced by GE and Safran, avionics from Honeywell, and other components from international suppliers. COMAC is working toward greater domestic content in future variants.
Notable operators
China Eastern Airlines was the launch customer and first operator of the C919, with Air China and other Chinese carriers also holding orders.
Notable facts
- ›CAAC type certification was granted in September 2022, enabling commercial operations.
- ›First commercial flight operated by China Eastern Airlines on 28 May 2023.
- ›The aircraft program was formally launched in 2008 with first delivery originally targeted for 2016.
- ›COMAC has reported over 1,000 orders, though the vast majority are from Chinese state-linked entities.
- ›A longer-range variant, the C919ER, has been announced but was not yet in service as of mid-2024.
This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.
Encyclopaedia
The Comac C919 is a narrow-body airliner developed by Chinese state owned aircraft manufacturer Comac. The development program was launched in 2008 as a competitor to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Production began in December 2011, with the first prototype being rolled out on 2 November 2015; the maiden flight took place on 5 May 2017. On 29 September 2022 the C919 received its CAAC type certificate. The first production airframe was delivered to China Eastern Airlines on 9 December 2022 and was put into commercial passenger service on 28 May 2023.
Read full article on WikipediaLatest news
Interesting Engineering· 8/22/2026
China targets 5 Western origin materials in its C919 aircraft
Read at Interesting Engineering
South China Morning Post· 8/20/2026
China’s C919 supply chain: inside the push to replace Western aerospace parts
Read at South China Morning Post
Aerospace Global News· 8/12/2026
Milestone for COMAC: C919 launches first scheduled international flight
Read at Aerospace Global News
Leeham News and Analysis· 9/1/2026
Boosting C919 Production Rates Remains Comac’s Real Test
Read at Leeham News and Analysis
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation· 6/15/2026
COMAC: China’s Looming Threat to the Global Aviation Industry | Reports & Briefings | Jun 15, 2026
Read at Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
airdatanews.com· 8/24/2026
China quietly moves to replace Western components on the C919 airliner
Read at airdatanews.com
CNBC· 8/12/2026
China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus makes first international flight — could COMAC challenge the aviation duopoly?
Read at CNBC
Simple Flying· 7/20/2026
China’s Home-Built COMAC C919 Will Soon Begin Its 1st-Ever International Route
Read at Simple Flying
Operators
No operator data available.
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