COMAC C919COMAC C919

Specifications COMAC C919

The figures in this table refer to one specific variant — C919 ER. This avoids combining the range, capacity and dimensions of different versions into an inaccurate set of figures.

Variant shown in the table

C919 ER

Type

medium-haul narrow-body aircraft

Family's first flight

2017 year

Passenger capacity

158–192 passengers

Flight range

up to 5,555 km for the extended-range version

Mach's Cruising Number

M 0,785

Length

38,90 m

Wingspan

35,80 m

How the aircraft came about

History COMAC C919

The first C919 rolled out in 2015, and the first flight took place on May 5, 2017. The aircraft received a Chinese type certificate in September 2022, was handed over to the first customer in December of the same year and performed the first commercial flight on May 28, 2023.

China launched the C919 program in 2008 for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 segment. The first experimental aircraft rolled out in 2015, the first flight took place in 2017. The Chinese type certificate was received in 2022; in 2023, China Eastern performed the first commercial flight.

Milestones and decisions

Programme development

The creation of the C919 included the development of a glider, the organization of a network of suppliers and a large program of ground and flight tests. After rolling out the first sample in 2015, seven years passed before Chinese certification. This path separates the early design range statements from the approved serial aircraft data. For the following options COMAC will need to independently confirm their characteristics.

Model features

Design and variants

The C919 is a twin-engine aircraft with one aisle and six seats in a row. The main material of the airframe is aluminum alloys, and composites are also used in the design. The serial powerplant is the CFM LEAP-1C. Despite being assembled in China, the project includes systems and components from international suppliers.

The basic passenger version is designed for medium-haul lines. COMAC discussed options with increased range and other sizes, but the design plans are not equal to certified serial modifications. The numbers in the table of this page refer to the specified base configuration.

Powerplant

Engines

Two CFM International LEAP-1C turbofan engines with integrated power plant.

The engine variant fitted to an individual aircraft is recorded in its documentation. The powerplant affects thrust, fuel consumption, noise and maintenance requirements.

On board

Cabin and passenger capacity

One pass and six seats in a row according to the 3+3 scheme. The manufacturer shows two-class layouts for 158 or 164 seats and single-class options up to 192 seats.

Passenger capacity is 158-192 passengers. The exact number of seats is determined by the operator: business class, kitchens, toilets and recreation areas of the crew take place. Therefore, the layout of the cabin differs even with the same models.

In practice

Operations and uses

China Eastern opened commercial operation of the C919 in May 2023 on a flight between Shanghai and Beijing. Then the aircraft began to enter on other internal lines. On these routes, it performs the usual task for a narrow-body liner: it connects large cities with a capacity of the order of the A320 and 737. The actual layout of the seats is determined by the airline, and the geography of operation depends on the tolerances received.

Technical analysis

How it works COMAC C919

The C919 was launched as a Chinese single-aisle aircraft project for the largest passenger market segment. Between the start of the program in 2008, the rollout of the first prototype in 2015 and the first flight in 2017, the manufacturer had to build a network of suppliers and combine many systems in a new glider. Obtaining a Chinese type certificate in 2022 confirmed the basic design, but does not replace a separate tolerance for all possible future variants.

The aircraft has one aisle, six seats in the economic row and two CFM LEAP-1C engines under the wing. The basis of the design is metal alloys with the use of composites in individual elements. When developing COMAC used equipment from international suppliers, so the definition of "Chinese aircraft" refers primarily to the organization of the program and assembly, and not to the origin of each part.

The size of the C919 is comparable to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, but the indicators cannot be transferred between competitors without the same measurement conditions. Passport range depends on the number of passengers, cargo, fuel and reserves. Future variants with a different range or length require their own engineering work and certification. The base plane in the table of this page describes a certain configuration, and not all the proposals that the manufacturer discussed during the program.

History and operations

Role COMAC C919 in airline service

The first production car for commercial flights received China Eastern. In May 2023, the airline opened passenger service on the C919 between Shanghai and Beijing. Then the model gradually began to be introduced on other internal routes. Such a phased launch is important for a new type: engineers and crews accumulate operational experience, and the supply system learns to service the growing fleet.

For the airline, C919 solves the problem of frequent flights between cities with steady passenger traffic. A single-pass cabin allows you to use the usual boarding and maintenance schemes, but the actual number of seats is chosen by the carrier. Even with the same glider, route capabilities vary in luggage weight, weather and requirements for a spare airfield. In the schedule, the new type is also evaluated for reliability of departure and maintenance time.

The operation of the C919 in China does not mean automatic admission to transportation in any other country. Aviation authorities recognize or carry out certification under their own rules. For international expansion, the service network, spare parts and training of personnel outside the base market are important. Therefore, the historical date of the first commercial flight indicates the beginning of operation, and not the completion of all stages of the program development.

For comparison

Location COMAC C919 among other aircraft

Three COMAC programs belong to different segments. The C909, formerly called the ARJ21, is designed for regional lines with a relatively small flow. The C919 occupies a class of mass single-aisle aircraft with one pass. The C929 is conceived as a long-range wide-body type with two aisles, but remains a development program for the time being. Their sequence shows the growth of the manufacturer’s tasks, but the experience of operating one aircraft does not automatically confirm the readiness of the next. For the C909, there is already a history of regional operators; for the C919, commercial flight data is accumulated; for the C929, key checks are still ahead. Therefore, the phrase "COMAC aircraft" combines projects at completely different stages of maturity.

When evaluating a new model, it is not only the dimensions of the fuselage and the engine that are important. The manufacturer needs to organize the supply of parts, technical documentation, crew training and service support for airlines. Chinese C919 certification has confirmed the basic version according to the rules of the national regulator, but international geography requires independent work with other aviation authorities. For the C929, even the final figures still depend on the design and testing. When comparing with Airbus or Boeing, it is worth comparing aircraft of the same class and the same status: the serial regional C909 with regional competitors, the C919 operated with narrow-body, the C929 project - with the design goals of the long-range segment. Otherwise, the table will mix the confirmed data with the intentions of the developer.

The C919 is a narrow-body aircraft for mass internal and, in the future, other lines. Its commercial operation requires not only the supply of the board, but also the sustained support of the airline: simulators, technical procedures, spare parts and reliable operation of airport services. The Chinese certificate has become a necessary stage of the program; obtaining permits for other markets is a separate process. When comparing with the A320 or 737, it is important to take specific options with similar capacity and equally defined range indicators.

Where it flies

Airline operators

Examples of current or historically notable operators of the model and its variants:

• China Eastern Airlines
• Air China
• China Southern Airlines

Fleets change. Check the aircraft type and seat map on the airline's official website before your flight.