Comac C919

What is the Comac C919?

The C919 is a twin-engine, single-aisle airliner built by Comac, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China. It was designed to compete with the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737, the two jets that carry most of the world’s short and medium-haul traffic.

It is China’s first large narrow-body airliner in airline service. The full specification table for the aircraft is on this page, so this article covers the story behind the numbers.

Does China make commercial airliners?

Yes. Comac also builds the smaller C909 (formerly ARJ21) regional jet, and the C919 is its first narrow-body. The program launched in 2008 and the first prototype was rolled out on November 2, 2015.

The C919 made its first flight on May 5, 2017. It received its Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) type certificate on September 29, 2022.

China Eastern Airlines took the first production aircraft on December 9, 2022 and flew the first passenger service on May 28, 2023.

Why did the C919 take so long?

The program first aimed for a maiden flight in 2014 and service around 2020. Technical problems and supply issues pushed both dates back by years.

The gap between the first and second flights was unusually long. The first prototype flew in May 2017, but the second did not fly until December 2017, because it spent months in ground testing.

Comac planned about 4,200 flight-test hours, more than the roughly 3,000 typically required for an Airbus or Boeing narrow-body.

Is the C919 a copy of the Airbus A320?

Analysts call the design conservative and similar to the 30-year-old A320. A 3-3 cabin layout, a low wing and underwing engines are standard for the class.

Claims that Comac dismantled an A320 to reverse-engineer it come from a former Airbus executive, and Airbus has not commented. The extent and credibility of those claims are disputed.

The espionage record is firmer. A US court convicted Chinese intelligence officer Yanjun Xu in November 2022 of attempting to steal aerospace trade secrets, in a plot aimed at helping the C919 program.

What engines and suppliers does the C919 use?

The jet uses two CFM International LEAP-1C turbofans. The standard version uses the LEAP-1C28, and the extended-range version uses the higher-rated LEAP-1C30.

The LEAP-1C shares its type certificate with the LEAP-1A that powers the A320neo. The main difference is that the thrust reverser is part of the aircraft system rather than the engine.

The airframe is made by Chinese manufacturer AVIC, but many systems come from foreign suppliers, often through joint ventures in China. Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, Parker and Liebherr all supply major systems.

That dependence has had consequences. The US suspended LEAP-1C sales to China in May 2025 and lifted the suspension in July 2025. China’s own engine, the CJ-1000A, is still in testing.

What are the C919 variants?

The C919-100 is offered in two versions. The standard (STD) model has a lower maximum takeoff weight, while the extended-range (ER) model has a higher weight and more range. Both carry the same fuel capacity.

Air China is the confirmed ER operator. Comac is also developing a shorter C919-600 for high-altitude airports and a stretched C919-800 expected by about 2030.

A typical two-class cabin seats 158 passengers, and a single-class layout seats up to 168. A high-density arrangement can go higher.

How much is a C919?

Comac has never published a list price. In 2012, the order book stood at 380 aircraft worth about $26 billion, or roughly $68 million each, but that is an average of early orders and not a flyaway price.

For comparison, 2013 list prices were about $100 million for an A320neo and a 737 MAX 8, and airlines typically paid about half of that.

What airlines use the C919?

As of October 2026, every confirmed operator is Chinese: China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines. China Eastern was the launch customer. Air China and China Southern took their first aircraft on August 28, 2024.

Order totals are inflated by letters of intent. Comac said it had more than 1,200 orders in January 2023, but a count of firm orders was closer to 1,061 that September.

Brunei’s GallopAir ordered 15 C919s in 2023, which would make it the first non-Chinese operator, but no overseas airline is confirmed in service.

Will the C919 compete with Boeing and Airbus?

Production is the bottleneck. Comac wants a capacity of 150 aircraft a year, while Airbus built an average of 424 A320neo-family jets a year in the nine years to February 2025.

US export limits on the engine slowed deliveries in 2025, and the C919 has no confirmed international certification yet. For now it competes mainly in the Chinese home market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does China make commercial airliners?

Yes. Comac builds the C909 regional jet and the C919 narrow-body.

How much is a C919?

No official price is published. The 2012 order book averaged roughly $68 million per aircraft, and airlines negotiate their own prices.

What airlines use the C919?

China Eastern, Air China and China Southern operate it. No airline outside China is confirmed to fly it.

Is the C919 certified in Europe or the US?

No. It holds a CAAC type certificate from September 2022, and no FAA or EASA certification has been confirmed.