During the second CATA (China Air Transport Association) Aviation Conference held in Beijing on October 25, He Dongfeng, the Chairman of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), announced significant developments regarding the C929 wide-body passenger aircraft. He revealed that the preliminary design and vendor selection processes for the C929 are currently underway.

According to information from COMAC’s official website, the C929 is China’s first jet-powered long-range wide-body aircraft that has been developed according to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The basic version of the C929 can accommodate 280 passengers and has a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to the demand of the global and regional passenger air transport markets.

He also updated attendees on the domestic large passenger aircraft, the C919, noting that it has entered a new phase of operation involving multiple users and fleets. To date, 11 C919 aircraft have been delivered, accumulating 13,000 hours of operation and serving 700,000 passengers.

In addition, He shared progress regarding the ARJ21 regional passenger aircraft, which recently surpassed 500,000 flight hours. He termed this achievement a significant milestone, affirming the safety and reliability of the ARJ21. He mentioned that the ARJ21 operates effectively in regions like Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Heilongjiang in China, as well as in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. To date, 148 ARJ21 aircraft have been delivered, with operations extending to 156 cities and accommodating 17 million passengers.

Moreover, He highlighted that COMAC is actively promoting the innovative application of information technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and big data, alongside exploring sustainable aviation fuels, battery technology, and hydrogen energy for large aircraft.