Air China Becomes First Customer for COMAC C929 Widebody Jet
where2life | 4 November 2026 | 0 | Happening Now , Travel , Travel Buzz
Air China, the country’s flag carrier, became the first intended customer for COMAC’s C929 long-range widebody aircraft in November 2024. The announcement was made at Airshow China in Zhuhai, where COMAC confirmed that it had signed a user framework agreement with the airline. However, no firm order quantity or delivery schedule was disclosed.
Designed to compete with aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330neo and A350 families, the C929 is expected to accommodate approximately 280–400 passengers, depending on the configuration, with a targeted range of around 12,000 kilometres.
The programme originally began as the CR929, a joint China-Russia development project under CRAIC. Following Russia’s withdrawal, China continued development independently, rebranding the aircraft as the C929 in 2023.
As of late 2024, the programme remained in its design phase. Development milestones include plans for the first fuselage section to be delivered around September 2027, while the aircraft’s first flight and entry into commercial service are expected much later, potentially in the mid-2030s. These timelines remain subject to change.
The agreement marks an important step in COMAC’s ambition to expand its commercial aircraft portfolio beyond the C909 regional jet and C919 narrowbody. Air China’s involvement could also provide valuable operational feedback to help shape the C929 for long-haul airline operations.
China’s long-term ambition: With the C929, COMAC aims to strengthen its position in the global commercial aviation market and eventually challenge established Western manufacturers in the widebody segment.
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