China’s C-919 Jet Faces Turbulent Skies as US-China Trade Tensions Add to Delays

A Comac C919, the China’s first medium-haul passenger jet aircraft, takes off from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai on December 17, 2017. The aircraft, in development by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) in a bid to compete with Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320 series of passenger jets, flew its second test flight to Shanghai on December 17, according to state media. / AFP PHOTO / – / China OUT (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)

HONG KONG (AP) — China’s ambition to rival Boeing and Airbus with its homegrown C919 passenger jet is hitting turbulent skies. The C919, made by China’s state-owned COMAC, relies heavily on Western components and trade friction has raised risks for securing those parts. As of October, COMAC had delivered only seven C919s, far short of its initial target of delivering 30 jets this year. The C919 also has yet to obtain international certification. Analysts say while the C919 may gain a bigger market share inside China, it will take years more for COMAC to break the Boeing-Airbus duopoly for big commercial jets.