China's Comac delivers more C919 planes to airlines

Chinese state-owned aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) has delivered its C919 airliner to major state-owned airlines Air China and China Southern Airlines.

The two airlines each ordered 100 C919s in April from Comac, which will be delivered gradually during 2024-31. This latest deliveries mean that all three of China's largest airlines now have the C919 in their fleets.

Comac in March delivered the first C919 to state-owned China Eastern Airlines, which in September 2023 placed an order for 100 of such planes. At the 2024 Singapore Airshow, Comac announced an order from Tibet Airlines for 40 C919s. It has received orders for more than 900 C919s.

So far, nine C919s have been delivered to domestic airlines, Comac said. A continued increase in orders and deliveries of the C919 airliner is likely to continue to boost demand for titanium mill products in the coming years, market participants said. A single C919 aircraft contains 3.92t of titanium mill products. The aerospace industry accounts for over 25pc of global total titanium consumption, according to industry estimates.

Comac launched the C919 development programme in 2008 and began prototype production in 2011. The airliner had its maiden flight in 2017 and received its airworthiness certification from Chinese authorities in September 2022. It completed its first pre-delivery flight test in the same year.

China is also seeking Europe's approval for C919 to compete with established aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus outside China.