Airbus: C919 will become a strong competitor of A320neo

 Civil Aviation Resource Network, May 8, 2021: Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury stated at the Atlantic Council EU-U.S. Future Forum on May 6 that at the end of 2020-2030, COMAC C919 will become A strong competitor of Airbus A320neo. He believes that C919 has the ability to gradually transform the single-aisle passenger aircraft market into a three-pronged situation of Boeing, Airbus and COMAC.

　　 For a long time, the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry has been monopolized by Airbus and Boeing. However, Faury believes that COMAC has made rapid progress in recent years and this situation will change. "It will start slowly. At the beginning, it may only involve Chinese airlines, but we believe that it will gradually become a good participant. At the end of this decade, in terms of a single-channel market, we may change from a duopoly. To become a three-legged camp."

　　 So far, C919 has received more than 800 orders, almost all from Chinese airlines and leasing companies. Although China's domestic aviation market is vast, this alone is not enough to make the C919 successful. Faury believes that C919 will start strongly in China, and then it will go global. "We believe that C919 will start in China, because Chinese airlines are state-owned enterprises, so it is easier to do so. It takes a lot of time to prove the maturity of the product to make it reliable, credible and economically viable. But we believe that, In the field of single-aisle aircraft, COMAC will gain a certain market share by the end of this decade."

　　 Interestingly, Ryanair expressed strong interest in the early development of C919. In 2011, Ryanair and COMAC signed a memorandum of understanding at the Paris Air Show. The CEO of Ryanair reiterated its commitment to the C919 project last year, saying that the competition between COMAC and Airbus and Boeing will benefit the development of the aviation industry.

　　 China has always been an important market for Airbus. Last year, about 20% of Airbus's aircraft were delivered to Chinese customers. Faury said that the Chinese market will "gradually introduce domestic products", which will weaken Airbus's interests in the region.

COMAC C919, Airbus A320neo