Hong Kong media: Southeast Asia has become the top target for C919's overseas market
According to the website of the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong on March 3rd, as Chinese manufacturers strive to move upstream in the global supply chain, the rapidly developing aviation market in Southeast Asia seems to become a battlefield for Chinese domestic C919 aircraft manufacturers to compete with Airbus and Boeing.
The strong trade relationship with China and the continuous rebound of air travel after the COVID-19 epidemic have brought new airlines and new routes, which means that this region has become the number one target of COMAC outside the local market.
According to reports, Shukur Yusuf, an analyst at aviation consulting firm Xinglou Analytics, said, "There is an undeveloped Asian internal market in Southeast Asia, and COMAC can enter it with its C919, even if it will compete with aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 MAX."
As part of the marketing campaign starting on February 27th, COMAC's C919 narrow body aircraft and ARJ21 regional aircraft will conduct demonstration flights in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
According to the report, although the first overseas appearance of the C919 at the Singapore Airshow caused quite a sensation, analysts believe that this is just the beginning, and COMAC still needs to increase investment to improve its service capabilities.
Andrew Charlton, the general manager of an aviation consulting firm, said, "COMAC still needs time and more aircraft products to compete for more orders."
The report states that the demand for flights in Southeast Asia is expected to increase significantly, providing ample reason for the Chinese manufacturer to attract airlines in the region by creating product lines and services.
COMAC predicts that in the next 20 years, the global number of civilian aircraft will increase from 24264 to 51701, and the demand for passenger aircraft in the Asia Pacific market will increase from 3314 to 9701.
Last year, COMAC opened its first regional representative office in Indonesia, and its Southeast Asian client, Indonesia's Lingya Airlines, has already used ARJ21 on its route from Jakarta to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
According to reports, analysts say that opening an office in Jakarta is seen as an important step in COMAC's commitment to providing aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.
The head of Eaton Aerospace Group's Asia Pacific region said that in order for C919 and ARJ21 to succeed, COMAC needs to establish a good support network and infrastructure around their services. COMAC stated in a statement that it "will be committed to developing good products, providing good services, and striving to provide a reliable new choice for the international civil aviation market.".
The report states that C919 also plays an important role in China's shift towards self-reliance, and in fierce competition with the United States, China is seeking to reduce imports of advanced technology.
At present, the tense relationship between Beijing and Washington does not seem to have affected China's ambition to produce and export commercial aircraft, as China has already achieved success in other modes of transportation such as high-speed rail and electric vehicles.
Boeing and Airbus both welcomed competition from COMAC and stated that the commercial aircraft market is large enough to accommodate another participant. Meanwhile, analysts say it is only a matter of time before COMAC truly breaks the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing.