The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (Comac, sometimes stylized as COMAC, ) is a Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer established on 11 May 2008 in Shanghai.[3] Their headquarters is in Pudong, Shanghai.[4] The company has a registered capital of RMB 19 billion (US$2.7 billion as of May 2008). The corporation is a designer and constructor of large passenger aircraft with capacities of over 150 passengers.
The first aircraft marketed by Comac is the ARJ21 regional jet, which was developed by China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I). This was followed by the C919 narrow-body aircraft, which can seat up to 168 passengers and made its maiden flight in 2017,[5] entering into commercial service in March 2023.[6]
History
Origins
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) was established on 11 May 2008 in Shanghai. It was established jointly by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), Aluminum Corporation of China, Baosteel Group Corporation, Sinochem Group, Shanghai Guosheng Corporation Limited, and State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.
U.S. sanctions
In January 2021, the United States government named Comac as a company "owned or controlled" by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and thereby prohibited any American company or individual from investing in it.[7] In January 2025, Comac was added to a United States Department of Defense list of companies that allegedly work with the PLA.[8] In May 2025, the U.S. tightened export controls on certain parts previously shipped to Comac.[9]
Products
For all models beginning with the 919, Comac's naming system for commercial airliners has taken the form of 9X9. In November 2024, Comac rebranded the ARJ21 as the C909 to match the format of the other models.[10]
Orders and deliveries
As of December 2025.
Collaborations
Bombardier
On 24 March 2011, Comac and the Canadian company Bombardier Inc. signed a framework agreement for a long-term strategic cooperation on commercial aircraft.[17][18]
In May 2017, Bombardier and Comac began holding talks about an investment into Bombardier's passenger jet business.[19]
Boeing
On 23 September 2015, Boeing announced plans to build a Boeing 737 completion and finishing plant in China.[20] The facility will be used to paint exteriors and install interiors into airframes built in the United States.[21] The joint-venture plant will be located in Zhoushan, Zhejiang.[22]
Ryanair
In June 2011 Comac and Irish low-cost airline Ryanair signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of the C919, a 200-seat narrow-body commercial jet which will compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.[23]
UAC
China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Co. Ltd. (CRAIC), a joint venture company invested by Comac and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) responsible for the development of a wide-body commercial jet, was established in Shanghai on 22 May 2017. Research and development for the new plane was to be conducted in Moscow, with aircraft to be assembled in Shanghai.[24] Subsequently, the partnership was dropped, and by November 2023 Comac announced that it would develop the aircraft model (since rebranded C929) on its own.[25]
See also
- List of civil aircraft
- List of aircraft produced by China
- Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC)
External links
References
- He Dongfeng Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, retrieved 2020-05-31^
- Zhao Yuerang Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, retrieved 2020-05-31^
- An Lu. China's jumbo passenger aircraft company established in Shanghai Xinhua, 11 May 2008, retrieved 25 June 2011^
- http://www.comac.cc/bottom/201001/05/t20100105_319817.shtml COMAC, 2010-01-05, retrieved 2020-01-07^
- With maiden jet flight, China enters dog-fight with Boeing, Airbus Reuters, 5 May 2017, retrieved 5 May 2017^
- China Positioning C919 Passenger Jet to Take on Boeing, Airbus 14 March 2024, retrieved 13 May 2024^
- Mike Stone. Trump administration adds China's Comac, Xiaomi to Chinese military blacklist Reuters, 2021-01-14, retrieved 2021-01-14^
- James T. Areddy. Pentagon Labels More Chinese Companies as Military in Nature The Wall Street Journal, January 6, 2025, retrieved 2025-01-08^
- Keith Bradsher. Trump Has Targeted a Plane China Sees as a 'Power' Symbol The New York Times, 2025-05-30, retrieved 2025-06-07^
- Comac formally rebrands ARJ21 as C909 Flightglobal.com, retrieved 12 November 2024^
- China's first big passenger plane takes off for maiden flight BBC News, 5 May 2017, retrieved 5 May 2017^
- Comac confirms 'C929' moniker as widebody enters 'detailed design' stage Flight Global, 6 November 2023, retrieved 19 December 2023^
- Frank Chen. China begins work on new C939 widebody jet, going bigger and bolder after C919's success South China Morning Post, 13 May 2024, retrieved 13 May 2024^
- China's COMAC working on preliminary designs for new C939 widebody jet, SCMP reports Yahoo Finance, 13 May 2024, retrieved 13 May 2024^
- Comac C949: China unveils quiet supersonic jet with ultra-long range 29 March 2025^
- China's COMAC to start C919 deliveries in 2022, report says www.aerotime.aero, 20 January 2022, retrieved 2022-05-31^
- COMAC and Bombardier Sign Strategic Agreement on Commercial Aircraft Bombardier, 24 March 2011, retrieved 25 June 2011^
- Jon Ostrower. Many questions surround Bombardier/Comac partnership Flight Global, 1 April 2011, retrieved 25 June 2011^
- Don Weinland. Chinese group in talks to aid struggling jet maker Bombardier Financial Times, 18 May 2017, retrieved 18 May 2017^
- China orders 300 Boeing planes worth $38 billion USA Today, retrieved 23 September 2015^
- Loren Thompson. Boeing To Build Its First Offshore Plane Factory In China As Ex-Im Bank Withers Forbes, retrieved 23 September 2015^
- Boeing to build plant in Zhoushan. Shanghai Daily.^
- Ryanair and Comac (Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China) Sign C 919... retrieved 31 August 2012^
- "China-Russia joint venture to develop wide-body commercial jet". China Daily.^
- Alfred Chua. Comac confirms 'C929' moniker as widebody enters 'detailed design' stage Flight Global, 6 November 2023^