The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (Comac, sometimes stylized as COMAC, ) is a Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer established on 11 May 2008 in Shanghai. The headquarters are in Pudong, Shanghai. The company has a registered capital of RMB 19 billion (US$2.7 billion as of May 2008). The corporation is a designer and constructor of large passenger aircraft with capacities of over 150 passengers. The first aircraft marketed by Comac is the ARJ21 regional jet, which was developed by China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I). This was followed by the C919 narrow-body aircraft, which can seat up to 168 passengers and made its maiden flight in 2017, entering into commercial service in March 2023.

History

Origins

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) was established on 11 May 2008 in Shanghai. It was established jointly by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), Aluminum Corporation of China, Baosteel Group Corporation, Sinochem Group, Shanghai Guosheng Corporation Limited, and State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

U.S. sanctions

In January 2021, the United States government named Comac as a company "owned or controlled" by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and thereby prohibited any American company or individual from investing in it.

Products

For all models beginning with the 919, Comac's naming system for commercial airliners has taken the form of 9X9. In November 2024, Comac rebranded the ARJ21 as the C909 to match the format of the other models.

Orders and deliveries

As of October 2024.

Collaborations

Bombardier

On 24 March 2011, Comac and the Canadian company Bombardier Inc. signed a framework agreement for a long-term strategic cooperation on commercial aircraft. In May 2017, Bombardier and Comac began holding talks about an investment into Bombardier's passenger jet business.

Boeing

On 23 September 2015, Boeing announced plans to build a Boeing 737 completion and finishing plant in China. The facility will be used to paint exteriors and install interiors into airframes built in the United States. The joint-venture plant will be located in Zhoushan, Zhejiang.

Ryanair

In June 2011 Comac and Irish low-cost airline Ryanair signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of the C919, a 200-seat narrow-body commercial jet which will compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

UAC

China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Co. Ltd. (CRAIC), a joint venture company invested by Comac and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) responsible for the development of a wide-body commercial jet, was established in Shanghai on 22 May 2017. Research and development for the new plane was to be conducted in Moscow, with aircraft to be assembled in Shanghai. Subsequently the partnership was dropped, and by November 2023 Comac announced that it would develop the aircraft model (since rebranded C929) on its own.