COMAC Debuts C919 and C909 at Dubai Airshow

This week represented a significant milestone in the global commercial aviation industry as the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) made its inaugural appearance at the Dubai Airshow 2025. Starting on November 17th at Al Maktoum International Airport, the event marked the Middle Eastern debut of China's domestically developed narrow-body airliner, the C919, along with its regional jet variant, the C909 business jet.

COMAC's participation in the renowned airshow represents a strategic effort to enter the global market, highlighting the newest advancements in China's commercial aircraft development. By offering an engaging mix of flight demonstrations, comprehensive exhibitions, and product promotions, the state-owned company seeks to enhance interactions, foster mutual trust, and forge stronger partnerships with the international aviation sector.

The C919 showcased a comfortable cabin layout with 164 seats across three classes. Its interior design is remarkable, embodying a modern Chinese aesthetic with the theme "Being in an elegant Chinese style, like walking in the light." This distinctive design merges modern functionality with traditional Oriental elements, providing passengers with a unique and serene flying experience.

Meanwhile, the C909 business jet demonstrated its commitment to luxurious and flexible travel. The aircraft boasts a spacious and comfortable cabin, designed for a flexible layout accommodating functional areas such as rest areas, reception zones, conference spaces, and dining areas. With configuration options ranging from 12 to 29 seats, the C909 is positioned to satisfy the diversified and high-end travel demands of the global corporate and private jet market.

Adding a dynamic element to its debut, a COMAC-owned C919 aircraft was slated to conduct a demonstration flight. This airborne display will allow the public and potential customers to witness the outstanding manoeuvrability and performance characteristics of the C919 firsthand, providing a tangible demonstration of its capabilities in a challenging operational environment.

In addition to the standard passenger jets, COMAC highlighted the flexibility of the C909 platform by presenting specialized versions such as the C909 business jet, a medical rescue aircraft, an emergency rescue command aircraft, a firefighting aircraft, and a cargo aircraft. This varied product development approach underscores the C909's usefulness for both commercial and special mission purposes. Likewise, the C919 family was showcased with mockups of potential shorter and extended versions, illustrating scalable solutions to optimise capacity for various route requirements.

The C909 aircraft (the ARJ21 variant) is designed with 78 to 97 seats and offers a range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometres. This regional jet is particularly noted for its excellent take-off and landing performance and robust crosswind resistance, making it suitable for operations at airports with short/narrow runways, as well as in high-temperature and plateau conditions. With more than 170 C909 aircraft already delivered to domestic and foreign customers, the jet has successfully operated on over 790 routes, including entry into route operation in Southeast Asia.

The C919, a larger aircraft, can accommodate between 158 and 192 passengers and has a range of 4,075 to 5,555 kilometres. So far, 26 C919 aircraft have been delivered and are currently in operation across more than 30 routes, quickly gaining operational experience.

The upcoming wide-body C929 aircraft, now in the research and development stage, is planned with a standard version featuring 280 seats and a long-range capacity of around 12,000 kilometres. Its development is progressing steadily, aiming to compete with the existing duopoly in the long-haul market.

COMAC reiterated its commitment to joint progress, pledging to "consistently uphold the principles of openness and collaboration." The company is enthusiastic about fostering closer, stronger, and more meaningful relationships with international customers and partners to promote the flourishing growth of the global civil aviation transportation sector.