COMAC, China Eastern sign agreement to develop stretched C919 airliner

COMAC has signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines in Shanghai last week to jointly develop a stretched version of the C919, designated as the C919-800, which is expected to seat at least 200 passengers.

The new C919-800 variant is positioned to address demand for higher-capacity narrowbody jets and will directly target the same market segment as the Airbus A321neo.

The standard C919, which accommodates 158 to 192 passengers, entered commercial service with China Eastern in May 2023. No timeline has been announced for the certification or entry into service of the C919-800.

China Eastern is the launch customer for the C919 and has accumulated over two years of operational experience with the type. The agreement leverages the airline’s day-to-day feedback to inform design improvements for the new stretched variant.

COMAC, a state-owned Chinese manufacturer, faces ongoing challenges in the C919 program due to its reliance on Western suppliers. Key components, including the Leap-1C engines supplied by CFM, have been subject to export restrictions and supply uncertainties.

The narrowbody market remains highly competitive, with the A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX 10 occupying the higher-capacity segment. COMAC aims to expand its presence beyond the Chinese domestic market, but supplier risks and certification hurdles have complicated the C919 program’s progress.

About the Author

Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

Articles by the author »