China’s ‘Big Three’ expect strong growth in C919 deliveries

China’s three largest carriers expect a marked increase in deliveries of Comac’s C919 narrowbody jet this year, according to their latest fleet plans. The disclosures, made alongside their annual financial results, align with Comac’s previously disclosed plans to raise the production rate of its narrowbody programme this year. The ‘Big Three’ – Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – each expect to take delivery of between 10 and 12 C919s this year, doubling or tripling their existing fleets of the narrowbody. Launch customer China Eastern, which has 10 C919s in service, aims to receive another 10 examples in 2025, doubling its operating fleet by the end of the year. Similarly, Air China says it aims to receive 10 new C919s in 2025, bringing the total fleet to 13 examples by year-end. China Southern, meanwhile, targets deliveries of 12 C919s, taking its operating fleet to 15 aircraft. Air China and China Southern only received their first C919s in August 2024, while China Eastern took delivery its first example in 2023. In 2026 and 2027, the three operators expect to receive 10 C919s per year, an indication that production rates may have stabilised by then. Comac executives were cited in local media reports in January that the Shanghai-based airframer was looking to deliver at least 30 C919s this year, as it raises production capacity to 50 aircraft annually.<br/>