Air TransportEASA test pilots fly China’s C919 as COMAC seeks European certification
Test pilots from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have conducted evaluation flights of China’s C919 narrowbody jet in Shanghai, according to the South China Morning Post. The flights are part of COMAC’s efforts to secure European certification, widely viewed as the most viable pathway for the aircraft to gain regulatory acceptance outside China.
Sources cited by the South China Morning Post said two EASA pilots carried out verification flights in November using a C919 operating from Shanghai Pudong Airport, close to the aircraft’s final assembly line.
The tests followed delays in the certification process last year and were described as part of technical exchanges between COMAC and the European regulator. According to one source, the aircraft was assessed as safe, with only minor issues requiring adjustments.
The C919 is a single-aisle jet designed to carry around 170 passengers, placing it in direct competition with the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing 737. Although marketed as a domestically developed aircraft, it relies heavily on Western technology, including CFM International Leap-1C engines and a range of avionics and systems sourced from suppliers outside China.
COMAC has stated its intention to expand C919 production, but progress has been uneven. In 2025, the manufacturer had targeted deliveries of up to 50 aircraft, a goal that was not met amid continued difficulties securing parts and equipment linked to U.S. export controls and geopolitical tensions. COMAC ultimately delivered 16 C919s during the year, nine of them in the final quarter.
16 aircraft delivered in 2025
Despite the slower-than-planned ramp-up, the in-service fleet has continued to grow. There are currently 32 C919s active, including prototypes and demonstration aircraft. China Eastern Airlines is the largest operator with 14 aircraft, followed by Air China with nine and China Southern with eight. One aircraft is operated by COMAC Express and is primarily used for promotional and demonstration purposes.
The aircraft has accumulated more than 300 firm orders from China’s three largest state-owned airlines, along with additional commitments. However, sales beyond the domestic market remain constrained by certification barriers. While COMAC has expressed interest in exporting the C919, the lack of a type certificate recognized by major Western regulators has limited its appeal to foreign carriers.
In this context, EASA certification is seen as a critical objective. European approval would provide international credibility and could open the door to operations in multiple jurisdictions, even as COMAC has largely avoided pursuing U.S. Federal Aviation Administration validation amid strained relations between Washington and Beijing.
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.
