Cathay Pacific shows interest in stretched C919 aircraft
China’s commercial aircraft manufacturer COMAC could have a major customer in the future, Cathay Pacific.
The Hong Kong-based carrier sent a delegation to the planemaker’s facilities in Shanghai in late 2024 and was quite impressed with its designs, according to its chief operating officer, Alex McGowan.
The executive also pointed out that Cathay could be an operator of the stretched variant of the C919, a narrow-body jet that rivals the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.
COMAC announced in November 2023 that it would begin development of two versions based on the current C919, which has 164 seats.
One of them, smaller, is intended for operations at high-altitude airports. The other aircraft is an A321neo equivalent, about 45 meters long and seating 210 passengers in two classes.
“I think our particular route structure and market demand require a larger narrowbody, and we’re interested to see if COMAC’s plans, in due course, will include the introduction of a stretched variant of the C919,” McGowan said on Wednesday.
Cathay has also expressed interest in the widebody C929, which is being developed to replace the A330neo and Boeing 787, and has even offered to share its experience with that type of aircraft with the manufacturer.
Boeing 777X not due until 2027
Cathay Pacific’s fleet currently includes 48 A350s, 52 Boeing 777s, six A330-300s and 16 A321neos.
The airline has closed an order for 30 A330neos that will be delivered between 2028 and 2031. It has also become a customer for the A350F, which will replace its 747-400Fs, and is reportedly looking for dozens more widebodies.
Aircraft being evaluated include the A350, Boeing 787 and 777X.
Boeing’s massive twin-engine, twin-aisle jet is in the final stages of certification, expected by the end of the year or early 2026.
Cathay has 31 firm orders for the 777-9 from a 2013 deal, but has said it does not expect the first aircraft before 2027.
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Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
