China’s chief builder of commercial aircraft is displaying its full product line – including its home-grown narrowbody C919 as well as a full surgical cabin on board its regional jet – at the Singapore Airshow as it seeks to widen its footprint in Southeast Asia.
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has “set up” a C919 at the twice-yearly expo for a fly-by demonstration, according to independent aviation analyst Li Hanming. The show began on Tuesday and is set to run for six days.
A source close to the matter confirmed that the Chinese airliner would have another demonstration flight, following its overseas debut at the same event two years ago.
The source added that the C919 may be the only single-aisle jet to feature in a fly-by this year, as Airbus would mainly showcase its A350 widebody series and Boeing would only stage ground displays.
Along with the marquee C919, Comac has brought a C909 regional jet under the livery of its first overseas buyer TransNusa, a budget carrier in Indonesia backed by Chinese capital. Separately, a medical variant of the C909 dubbed the “flying eye hospital” is also making its public debut.
“The C909 is equipped with ophthalmic diagnostic and treatment equipment, capable of performing surgeries,” Comac said in a Tuesday press release.
“The cabin can be configured for medical assistance, patient transport and medical rescue team deployment.”
Comac also gave an update on its commercial performance. The company said it has made more than 200 deliveries of the C909 and C919, servicing more than 36 million passengers on about 800 domestic and overseas routes.
Nine C909s are flying in Southeast Asia with local airlines, the planemaker said, with TransNusa, Lao Airlines and Vietnam’s VietJet deploying the aircraft on more than 20 routes across the subcontinent and carrying a cumulative 700,000 passengers.
It did not, however, provide details on C919 deliveries. Only 15 units of the narrowbody jet were delivered in 2025, falling short of Comac’s original target of 75.
Comac executives would use the air show to meet representatives from civil aviation regulators in member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), both Li and the source said.
The Chinese manufacturer hosted a forum on Asia-Pacific industrial cooperation in Singapore on Monday, as partners and potential customers arrived at the city state in advance of the air show. The forum included ongoing and proposed programmes to expand Comac’s “support network” in Southeast Asia, one attendee said.
Given its geographical proximity and economic ties with China, the 11-nation Asean bloc is seen as a proving ground for Comac’s global expansion ambitions.
The C909 has joined or is set to join the fleets of airlines in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam. Brunei adopted China’s civil aviation certification standards in October.
Comac uses a regional office in Singapore to support sales and pitch for more orders.
The market is watching closely to see if Comac will finalise new deals during this year’s air show, especially if the C919 has a breakthrough sale. The company is aiming to secure a position in a lucrative market currently dominated by Boeing and Airbus, with the C919 directly competing with the companies’ 737 and A320 families.
A dozen Southeast Asian airlines, from large carriers to budget operators, remained tight-lipped on potential new orders with Comac after being reached for comment.
But China’s sprawling trade ties with the region could provide a tailwind.
“I suspect deals are only among those Asian carriers that have a government ownership element and therefore buy any [Comac planes] as part of a wider trade agreement [with China],” said John Grant, senior analyst with the British aviation intelligence firm OAG.
“Airlines are extremely cautious about new aircraft types, so it’s a hard sell for Comac.”
The C919 made its commercial debut in China in May 2023 and is now on back order for China’s three largest airlines. No Southeast Asian airlines – many of which lack regulatory approval or on-the-ground support for new aircraft types – have bought or leased a C919.
Travellers in Southeast Asia said they welcomed more Comac aircraft in their region, since the planes have clean safety records – especially if selling for less than Airbus and Boeing jets would translate to lower fares.
The Chinese aircraft maker should get a “chance” to sell planes to Malaysian carriers because there has been no reason to suspect their quality, said Wong Foot Yow, director of the Malaysia-based software firm Ecava.
“The perception of poor Chinese quality has diminished.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
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