Comac Starts C929 Launch Customer Selection

Yang Yang, Comac deputy general manager of marketing and sales, made the intimation at the Super Terminal Expo here in Hong Kong as he delivered an industry update from the Chinese OEM.

Yang said that the C929 is currently in the preliminary design stage, but did not give additional details on the selection. It is likely that the launch customer will be one of China’s “big three” state-owned airlines: Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

Comac’s latest C929 specifications indicate the aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 247.5 tons, a maximum landing weight of 190 tons and a range of 12,000 km (6,500 nm) flying at maximum speed of Mach 0.85. The OEM is proposing a three-class configuration that accommodates 281 passengers, as well as a high-density layout with room for 440 passengers.

The standard variant will take on the C929-600 designation, while shortened and stretched versions will adopt the -500 and -700 monikers, respectively.

Yang also presented Comac’s 20-year market outlook, in which it sees China becoming the world's largest single aviation market, requiring 9,171 new aircraft by 2043. The manufacturer predicts 8,773 new aircraft will be needed in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Southeast Asia. Comac's top two markets are China and Asia-Pacific.