China's Large Passenger Aircraft C919 Could Seat Up to 240 in the Future; C929 Advancing Through Steady Design

After the domestically developed large passenger aircraft C919 was delivered to China's three major airlines, it is increasingly appearing on passenger travel routes. What new progress has been made in the development of China's large aircraft? At the 4th China Air Transport Association Aviation Conference, a reporter learned that the C929 is in a steady design phase.

At COMAC's exhibition area, the reporter noted that two C919 models represent new variants under development: one shortened variant and one stretched variant.

Although the stretched new variant also features a single-aisle design, it can seat up to 240 passengers, nearly 80 more seats than models already delivered on the current market.

Unlike the stretched variant, which primarily meets high-capacity market demand, the shortened variant, with a two-class layout of 140 seats, can meet civil aviation transport needs in plateau regions.

Shen Bo, General Manager of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), introduced that the C929 is currently in a steady detailed design phase. "We continue to enrich our product family. The C909 freighter, medical aircraft, emergency rescue command aircraft, and business jet have been delivered to customers, and the firefighting aircraft has obtained commercial orders. In addition, in line with the trends of new energy and new technology transformation, we are laying out hybrid, electric, and hydrogen new-energy aircraft to provide more intelligent and reliable products."