COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) is China's state-owned commercial aircraft manufacturer and the core vehicle for the country's indigenous airliner program. Its current aircraft family spans the in-service C909 regional jet, the in-service C919 narrow-body, and the C929 wide-body now in detailed design. COMAC has moved beyond a symbolic national program into real airline operations, customer support, and early export expansion in Southeast Asia — including Air Cambodia's headline 10+10 C909 commitment in 2025 — making it China's first credible attempt to build a full commercial-aircraft OEM, even as 2026 deliveries continue to lag ambitious airline expectations.
China's first domestically developed short- to medium-range turbofan regional airliner. The C909 is optimized for 78 to 97 seats, short and narrow runways, and demanding high-temperature or plateau operations, making it COMAC's current spearhead for regional export expansion in Southeast Asia, with growing derivative interest in medical-rescue and firefighting configurations.
In scheduled service in China and Southeast Asia, with ~182 cumulative deliveries by end of 2025. Nine C909s operate in Southeast Asia through TransNusa, Lao Airlines, and Chengdu Airlines after Vietjet ended its 6-month wet-lease in October 2025. Air Cambodia's September 2025 MoU for up to 20 aircraft (10 firm + 10 options) is the largest C909 order outside China and is set to enter operations in the second half of 2026, and Shanxi Victory General Aviation signed at Singapore Airshow 2026 for up to six firefighting C909s — the variant's first dedicated order.
Passenger Capacity78-97
Range2,225-3,700 km
Cumulative Deliveries~186 (10th anniversary, June 2026)
CAAC Type CertificateDecember 30, 2014
International OperatorsTransNusa, Lao Airlines, Chengdu Airlines (SE Asia)
Passengers Carried37M+ across 860+ routes (June 2026, 10-yr anniversary)
China's first domestically developed narrow-body single-aisle commercial airliner, designed to compete directly with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. Powered by CFM International LEAP-1C engines with a domestic CJ-1000A engine in flight-test on a Y-20 testbed and now expected to enter daily C919 service around 2028-2029.
In commercial service since May 2023 with about 37 cumulative deliveries — China Eastern leads the fleet with 15, Air China with 11, and China Southern with 10. The 2026 ramp is well behind plan: only 5 C919s shipped through April 2026 versus the 33 Chinese airlines projected for the year, with labor shortages and LEAP-1C supply identified as bottlenecks. COMAC is also growing the C919 into a family: the plateau-optimized C919-600 (≈140-160 seats, Tibet Airlines launch customer with 40 orders) was spotted at Shanghai Pudong in January 2026 ahead of flight testing, and a stretched 200+ seat C919-800 is in joint development with China Eastern targeting 2030 service.
Passenger Capacity158-192
Range4,075-5,555 km
Engines2 × CFM International LEAP-1C
First Commercial FlightMay 28, 2023
Cumulative Deliveries~37 (China Eastern 15, Air China 11, China Southern 10)
COMAC's planned twin-aisle wide-body program for long-haul international and regional flying. The aircraft is aimed at the Airbus A330neo and Boeing 787 class and is now being advanced as an independent Chinese program after the earlier Russia-China partnership unraveled. Air China has signed a preliminary launch-customer agreement.
In detailed design phase with active CAAC engineering reviews and preliminary wind-tunnel testing under way. At Singapore Airshow 2026, COMAC signed a letter of intent with Aviage Systems for the core avionics processing system, adding to Paris Air Show 2025 MoUs with Safran and Crane Aerospace. Fuselage manufacturer Huarui Aero is targeting first middle-fuselage delivery by September 1, 2027. Powerplant selection remains the largest open gating item.
Passenger Capacity~280 (baseline)
Range~12,000 km
Program StatusDetailed design, wind-tunnel testing under way
Launch CustomerAir China (preliminary agreement)
Recent MilestoneAviage Systems avionics LoI signed at Singapore Airshow 2026
Certification TargetChina type certificate by 2032; first commercial flight ~2035
What's Next
Close the 2026 C919 delivery gap
COMAC has shipped only 5 C919s in 2026 through mid-July (none reported in May, June or July — stalled since April) against the 33-aircraft total Chinese airlines have planned, leaving it on track to miss the annual goal by roughly half. The near-term challenge is unblocking LEAP-1C engine supply, easing labor shortages, and lifting monthly throughput so cumulative deliveries can move from ~37 toward the airlines' annual plan.
2026
EASA certification for C919
EASA remains around Phase 3 of a four-phase C919 review, with pilots and engineers keeping a near-permanent presence in Shanghai for ongoing flight and ground evaluations — China Southern completed the type's first heavy C-check (about 6,000 man-hours) in late May 2026, work European regulators are watching as part of the airworthiness review. EASA chief Florian Guillermet has said approval will not arrive before 2028 and could take three to six years overall — making EASA sign-off the single most important unlock for non-Chinese sales.
2028-2031
CJ-1000A domestic engine certification
The CJ-1000A engine, designed to replace the Western LEAP-1C on the C919, has completed flight-testing on a Y-20 testbed and is now expected to be certified in 2027-2028, enter daily C919 service around 2028-2029, and reach mass production by ~2030, reducing dependence on Western supply chains.
2027-2028
C929 wide-body development
Drive the C929 deeper into hardware execution: complete wind-tunnel and aerodynamic validation, lock in remaining tier-1 suppliers beyond Aviage/Safran/Crane, take delivery of Huarui Aero's first middle fuselage by September 2027, and ultimately pick a powerplant — still the largest open question for the program. COMAC has publicly set a prudent timeline of a China type certificate by 2032 and first commercial flight around 2035.
China TC by 2032; first flight ~2035
Southeast Asia and exports
Convert Air Cambodia's 10+10 C909 MoU into firm deliveries — Air Cambodia is now set to introduce the C909 and begin operations in 3Q 2026, becoming the type's fourth international operator after TransNusa, Lao Airlines, and Vietjet. Deploy more Chengdu Airlines C909s into Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Russia using the $92M COMAC capital injection, and use the C909 medical and firefighting variants showcased at Singapore Airshow 2026 to widen the addressable market beyond passenger service.
2026-2028
Fly the C919 derivative family
Move the C919's two announced derivatives from paper to hardware: bring the plateau-optimized C919-600 (Tibet Airlines launch customer, 40 orders) to its first flight, now targeted for 2027, and mature the stretched 200+ seat C919-800 with China Eastern toward a 2030 entry-into-service goal — broadening the family to chase the higher-capacity A321neo / 737 MAX 10 segment and high-altitude routes in western China.
COMAC C909 marks 10 years, holds 70% of China's regional fleet
COMAC's C909 regional jet marked its 10th anniversary of commercial service on June 28, with 186 aircraft delivered to more than 10 customers since its 2016 entry into service. The fleet now accounts for roughly 70% of China's regional-aircraft market, has carried more than 37 million passengers across 860-plus routes, and operates over 500 flights a day. The type has also expanded onto about 25 international routes across Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.
Operations & Revenue
StatusOperating
C909 and C919 are both in revenue service. The C909 marked 10 years in service on June 28, 2026 with ~186 aircraft delivered to 10+ customers, over 37 million passengers, 860+ routes and ~70% of China's regional-jet market — lifting combined C909+C919 deliveries to roughly 223. The C919 ramp remains well behind plan: still just 5 shipped in 2026 through mid-July (none reported May–July, stalled since April) versus an airline-planned 33, with labor shortages and LEAP-1C engine supply still the binding constraints, and reporting suggests COMAC is on track to miss the 2026 target by about half. Southeast Asia remains COMAC's first meaningful export beachhead, anchored by Air Cambodia's 10+10 C909 commitment (introduction now targeted for 3Q 2026), while COMAC widens its C919/C909 MRO network to counter supply disruptions.
Revenue Streams
C919 Aircraft Sales
Narrow-body aircraft sales and lifecycle support centered on the C919 trunk-liner program, which is already flying with China Eastern, Air China, and China Southern (~37 delivered) and carries a state-directed backlog of 1,000+ orders.
C909 (ARJ21) Aircraft Sales
Regional-jet sales, leasing, and support (~186 delivered by its June 2026 10-year service milestone), including export placements in Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. The C909 is also being extended into derivative markets such as medical rescue, firefighting, cargo, and business-jet configurations.
Government Funding and Subsidies
Ongoing state capital injections, subsidies, grants, and R&D support. Received $6.2B capital injection in 2025 from state shareholders.
Key Metrics
Employees
~10,000+
Est. Annual Revenue
~RMB 18.4B (~$2.9B) in 2020; current revenue not publicly disclosed (COMAC remains a loss-making state-owned enterprise reliant on state capital injections)
C909/C919 Combined Deliveries
~223 (37 C919 + 186 C909, mid-2026)
2026 C919 Deliveries to Date
5 through mid-July 2026 (stalled since April — no deliveries reported May–July; vs 33 airline plan)
At Singapore Airshow 2026, COMAC showcases the C919 with a demonstration flight and brings the C909 medical-rescue variant to Southeast Asia for the first time. COMAC says combined C909 and C919 deliveries have exceeded 200 aircraft, serving more than 800 routes and carrying over 36 million passengers. Shanxi Victory General Aviation also signs for up to six C909 firefighting aircraft — the C909's first dedicated firefighting order.
2026C909 marks 10 years in service with ~70% of China's regional market
On June 28, 2026, COMAC's C909 (formerly the ARJ21) marked its 10th anniversary of commercial service. Since entering service in 2016 the type had reached 186 aircraft delivered to more than 10 customers, carried over 37 million passengers across 860-plus routes at more than 500 flights per day, and accounted for roughly 70% of China's regional-aircraft market, while expanding onto about 25 international routes across Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam.
2026$92M capital injection into Chengdu Airlines
In February 2026, COMAC pumps 634 million yuan (~$91.76M) into subsidiary Chengdu Airlines, nearly tripling the carrier's registered capital from 680M yuan to 2B yuan and reinforcing COMAC's 48% stake. The move turns Chengdu Airlines into a demonstration platform for the C909 with planned expansion to routes across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Russia.
2026C929 detailed design phase advances
COMAC accelerates the C929 wide-body into detailed design, with CAAC engineers embedded in design reviews, preliminary wind-tunnel testing under way, and a letter of intent signed with Aviage Systems at Singapore Airshow for the core avionics processing system. Air China has signed a preliminary launch-customer agreement, and fuselage manufacturer Huarui Aero is targeting first middle-fuselage delivery by September 1, 2027.
2026C919 deliveries lag despite 33-aircraft airline plan
Chinese airlines projected 33 C919 deliveries in 2026, but COMAC ships only 5 aircraft through the end of April (1 in February, 2 in March, 2 in April), with output constrained by labor shortages and supplier dependencies — particularly LEAP-1C engines. Cumulative C919 deliveries reach about 37 since 2023 entry-into-service, with China Eastern leading at 15 aircraft, Air China at 11, and China Southern at 10.
2026C919 derivative family takes shape (-600 high-altitude and -800 stretch)
COMAC's plan to grow the C919 into a family becomes more concrete. The shortened, plateau-optimized C919-600 — a roughly 34 m fuselage, ~140-160 seats, and aimed at high-elevation airports in western China — is photographed at Shanghai Pudong in January 2026 ahead of flight testing, with Tibet Airlines as launch customer under a 40-aircraft joint-development agreement signed in December 2023 and first flight targeted for 2027. In parallel, COMAC and launch operator China Eastern are jointly developing the stretched C919-800, a 200+ seat variant targeting the Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX 10 class, with COMAC citing a 2030 entry-into-service goal.
2025Southeast Asia expansion and C929 supplier deals
COMAC adds Lao Airlines and Vietjet Air as new C909 customers and uses the Paris Air Show 2025 to sign C929 program cooperation MoUs with Safran and Crane Aerospace & Electronics. By mid-2025 it had delivered 20 C919s and 165 C909s. Vietjet's 6-month wet-lease of two C909s wraps in October without renewal, while Air Cambodia commits in September to up to 20 C909s (10 firm + 10 options) — the largest C909 order outside China.
2024ARJ21 rebranded as C909
At Airshow China in November 2024, COMAC commercially renames the ARJ21 as the C909 and standardizes its lineup under the COMAC+ naming scheme. By that point, the aircraft had been in service since 2016 with 150 deliveries and more than 17 million passengers carried.
2023C919 enters commercial service
China Eastern Airlines puts the C919 into commercial passenger service on May 28, 2023 on the Shanghai-Beijing route. COMAC takes over the C929 wide-body program independently after Russia partnership is dissolved.
2022C919 CAAC certification and first delivery
The C919 receives its type certificate from CAAC on September 29, 2022. First production aircraft delivered to China Eastern Airlines on December 9, 2022.
2017C919 maiden flight
The C919 completes its maiden flight on May 5, 2017 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport after years of development.
2015C919 prototype rollout
The first C919 prototype is rolled out on November 2, 2015 at COMAC's Shanghai facility, marking a major milestone for China's commercial aviation ambitions.
2009C919 program launched
COMAC officially launches the C919 narrow-body program and selects CFM International to supply LEAP-1C engines.
2008COMAC founded
The Chinese government establishes COMAC on May 11, 2008 in Shanghai with RMB 19 billion (~$2.7B) in registered capital from state-owned shareholders including SASAC and AVIC.
