At the ongoing Paris Air Show, the stands of Chinese companies have increased their presence. The exhibition area of the Commercial Aircraft of China (COMAC), which made the first commercial flight of a medium-sized aircraft in China in May, attracted many aviation professionals. Chinese companies are trying to grab a piece of the aircraft industry, which is dominated by Boeing and Airbus.
Comac shows a model of its mid-sized aircraft, the C919. The C919 was launched in May by China Eastern Airlines on a successful flight from Shanghai to Beijing. The head of COMAC said that relevant people from African, Asian and European airlines have visited the exhibition area, and will first pay attention to the Asian and African markets, and also hope to enter the United States and European markets.
A total of 27 Chinese companies and organizations participated in this year’s Paris Air Show. It is not easy for Chinese companies to go overseas. To fly on international routes, it is necessary to obtain the “type certificate” required for commercial flights from national authorities. In order to obtain the type certificate in the United States and Europe, it must pass a strict review.
Boeing forecasts that global demand for commercial aircraft will reach 42,595 in the 20 years to 2042. China is a huge market accounting for 20 percent of them. Chairman of the Japan Aerospace Industries Association (IHI), who has been visiting air shows since the 1980s, said, China is a huge market and will first grow through the domestic aviation industry.
If Chinese companies build up their business through strong domestic demand, they will be able to sell and fly to emerging and developing countries in the so-called Global South.
Stan Deal, the head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, said of rising Chinese aircraft makers that “it will take decades before they become competitors” to Boeing and Airbus. He expressed confidence in future orders, saying that Chinese companies do not pose a threat at present.
The confidence is based on the broad product line Boeing has built so far, from small planes to large ones. At the air show, Boeing displayed the 737MAX-10, the longest of the 737MAX small aircraft, which can accommodate 230 seats. Airbus is also showing off the 180-220 seat A321XLR, which is under development, on flights in the hope of increasing orders.
Yusaku Nishimura, a professor at the School of International Economics at the University of International Business and Economics, said: “In areas such as home appliances, high-speed rail and smartphones, Chinese companies have achieved rapid growth without realizing it. In the field of aircraft, this possibility is also very high.” In the future aviation industry, how to improve the presence of Chinese companies will be the focus of attention.