Comac C919 Makes Maiden International Flight Amid Global Aviation Dominance
China's state-owned aircraft manufacturer Comac is set to make its first international flight with the Comac C919, a commercial passenger jet touted as the country's answer to Boeing and Airbus.
The flight will take off from Beijing Capital International Airport at 3pm on Wednesday and land in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia just over two hours later. The C919 has been flying domestic routes operated by Chinese airlines since 2023.
Analysts say it could take generations for a Chinese aircraft to challenge the global dominance of Boeing and Airbus, which have long dominated the aviation industry, particularly in Asia.
The C919's reliance on foreign suppliers is a major concern, with over half of its components sourced from the US. Comac has reportedly delivered only 15 units of the C919 to customers last year, well short of its target of 75.