Beijing's C919 airliner, positioned as a potential competitor to Boeing and Airbus, marked its debut outside China with a flyby at the recent Singapore Airshow.
Manufactured by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the C919 is emblematic of China's ‘Made in China’ strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers.
The single-aisle jet, certified for mainland China flights, garnered attention as Tibet Airlines ordered 40 C919 jets at the airshow.
Meanwhile, Brunei's GallopAir, backed by Chinese investors, made headlines last year by placing the first overseas order for Comac's C919 narrow-body airliner and securing the second foreign order for Comac’s ARJ21 regional jet.
The Brunei-based startup, supported by China's Shaanxi Tianju Investment Group, aims to serve the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and act as a feeder for Royal Brunei Airlines.
The regulatory hurdles for the C919, currently certified only in China, pose challenges for GallopAir, but the startup is actively working with Comac and Brunei's civil aviation regulator to secure necessary approvals.
GallopAir is poised to start operations by the end of 2024 pending regulatory approval.
Despite not being certified by American and European aviation regulators, the C919, with a capacity for regional travel, may find appeal in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central Asia.
Industry experts suggest the C919 could emerge as an early competitor in the commercial aviation landscape. The C919's potential disruption to the Boeing-Airbus duopoly is further fuelled by industry experts who see an opportunity for Comac amid challenges faced by Boeing, particularly concerning the 737 Max issues.