Europe's aviation regulator, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has said it may take between three and six years to certify COMAC's C919 narrow-body jet for use in European airspace, Reuters reported on Monday, citing an interview with EASA executive director Florian Guillermet published in L'Usine Nouvelle.
The C919, which aims to rival Airbus and Boeing's bestselling single-aisle aircraft, began commercial service in China in 2023 after receiving domestic certification in 2022. COMAC had initially hoped to achieve EASA approval by 2025 to support international sales. However, Guillermet confirmed that certification within that timeframe is not possible.
EASA must still validate the aircraft's design, components and carry out flight testing. Guillermet told L'Usine Nouvelle that “COMAC is putting a lot of resources, commitment and technical means into this certification. I have no doubt that it will succeed.”
While the C919 is assembled in China, many of its key parts, including the LEAP engine, are manufactured by GE Aerospace and France's Safran. Most international airlines require certification from either EASA or the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before considering a new aircraft model for their fleets.
To date, the C919 operates only within China and Hong Kong. In contrast, COMAC has managed to place its older C909 regional jet with carriers in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Laos, where local regulators accept Chinese safety certification.
