Air China has announced its intention to purchase 100 COMAC C919 jets, marking a substantial investment in China’s burgeoning aviation industry.
The deal, valued at $10.8 billion based on list prices, signals a boost for Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, presented as a domestic challenger to Western industry giants Airbus and Boeing.
According to a filing by Air China, the delivery of these jets is scheduled between 2024 and 2031.
“The transaction is in line with the development plan of the company and the market demand, which is conducive to the group’s optimization of fleet structure and long-term supplement of fleet capacity,” Air China said in a statement.
Air China, one of China’s top three carriers, currently operates the COMAC ARJ21 regional jet with around 20 in service.
China Eastern Airlines, another major Chinese carrier, ordered 100 COMAC C919 aircraft in September 2023.
The COMAC C919 enters a competitive arena, pitting itself against Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A320neo, both leading models in global jetliner sales. Air China’s existing fleet consists of nearly 500 aircraft, including Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family airliners.
