More delays with China’s C919 narrow-body jet, this time for its first flight

China’s entry into the aviation market with a direct competitor for the latest variants of the Airbus A320 and Boeing’s 737, the Comac C919, has been a project beset with problems since its inception, and news has leaked out that its first flight scheduled for the end of 2015 has now been postponed until the first quarter 2016. When the plane’s specifications were released in November 2010 its first flight was forecast for 2014 and delivery of first planes in 2016, which put it in a very competitive position in relation to the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing in that sector of the 150 – 175 seat narrow-body aircraft market. Already it would seem that the revised delivery date of 2018 is likely unattainable and a date in 2020 is now looking more realistic for delivery of the first of 450 ordered aircraft, all orders being from Chinese airlines or Chinese leasing companies and businesses backed by Chinese banks and financial institutions.
Comac, China’s foremost aircraft manufacturer, is facing serious problems as a result of these delays concerning its ability to be competitive against Boeing and Airbus. The current situation is such that the C919 is likely to be launched two years after, rather than before the launch of the two new variants of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 747. As a consequence of these further delays, the C919 is going to struggle to compete as it will be inferior to the new variants once launched. Despite the fact Comac have sought certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in order to allow it to enter the domestic market, it is felt that Comac may well seek US FAA certification to improve the aircraft’s standing in the international market in an attempt to appeal to customers outside China.
Though Comac executives and Chinese government officials are greatly concerned over the impact of the delays on the image of the C919, safety is a priority, sources have said. “Any delay is unfortunate, but it is far more important to have an aircraft that is safe and reliable. China is developing the C919 with long-term goals in mind, and it must be patient and careful,” said a person close to the manufacturers, Comac. However an additional source has stated that “There is still a lot of work to do. At the pace that Comac is proceeding, they will only complete the systems integration around end-2015.”