Air China’s eye-catching contract to purchase 100 domestically produced C919 jet is anticipated to pique interest in the relatively new aircraft as Boeing’s status has been hampered by security concerns.
The order size from China’s flagship airline also ensures years of additional business for the C919’s state- owned manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China ( COMAC ), which could in turn attract investment and more purchases, according to analysts.
Air China, a Beijing-based airline with 196 domestic flights, including more than 60 overseas, announced on Friday ( Apr 26 ) that it had entered an agreement with COMAC to purchase the C919s from this year through 2031.
Sweetening the package, the flight said it had negotiated a “rather huge cost discount” off the listed total of US$ 10.8 billion for the order.
The order comes as Boeing, which controls half of Airbus ‘ US-European coalition, has recently been hit by a number of health scandals. In reaction, the US aircraft regulation blocked Boeing from expanding generation of its most famous planes, the 737 Max – a solitary- aisle, narrowbody design like the C919.
” The C919, in my opinion, is a major step forward, not only for China, but it ( also ) puts another player into the field internationally”, said Hugh Ritchie, CEO of Aviation Analysts International in Australia. ” There’s a move away from 737s and Boeing”.
Boeing has warned of potential difficulties in passing aircraft to consumers as the 108-year-old business increases security checks. Additionally, Airbus has delayed some sales to as soon as 2025 as a result of supply chain issues.
Body height and body width are competing with the Airbus A320 series of narrowbody jet, the C919. In May, it started conducting business passenger airlines.