Hong Kong media outlet Hong Kong 01 reported on the 13th that regarding China's domestically produced passenger aircraft "C919," although orders have exceeded 1,000 aircraft, only 42 have been delivered in three and a half years.

According to the article, the number of publicly announced C919 orders until July 2026 amounts to approximately 1,500 aircraft, of which firm orders have reached approximately 1,150 aircraft. On the other hand, the number of aircraft actually delivered to airlines remains at 42. Although 3 years and 7 months have passed since the delivery of the first aircraft in December 2022, the average monthly delivery is about 1 aircraft, and the delivery rate is approximately 4.2%.

By airline, orders are steadily accumulating, including a total of 310 aircraft (105 for China Eastern Airlines, 100 for Air China, and 105 for China Southern Airlines), along with 60 for Hainan Airlines Group, 40 for Tibet Airlines, 30 for Spring Airlines, and 20 for Juneyao Airlines, among others. Orders via leasing companies also exceed 500 aircraft.

Production and deliveries were 1 aircraft in 2022 and 2 aircraft in 2023, but have reached double digits since 2024 and have been gradually increasing, with 9 to 10 aircraft already in the first half of 2026. Manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) has set delivery targets of 45 aircraft in 2026, 55 in 2027, and 80 in 2028, but currently, there is a large gap from the targets.

According to the article, one of the production bottlenecks is the engine. The C919 currently uses the LEAP-1C engine manufactured by the US-French joint venture CFM International, but in May 2025, the US government temporarily suspended export permits to China. Although restrictions were lifted in July of the same year, deliveries for that year remained at 15 aircraft. Meanwhile, the domestically produced "Changjiang-1000A" engine obtained type certification at the end of 2025, and installation tests were conducted in the first quarter of 2026, and the construction of a dual supply system, involving both imported and domestic engines, is underway.

The article mentioned that "it only began commercial operations in May 2023 and is currently in the initial stages of mass production." The C919's final assembly line is currently only one in Pudong, Shanghai, and it is expected that if another assembly line under construction in Pudong Lingang is completed and fully operational, it will be possible to produce 150 aircraft annually. On the other hand, it also pointed out that "objectively speaking, it is impossible for a new production line to operate at the same speed as a mature production line from its first year."

And it argued that there is a significant gap between being "able to manufacture" and "being able to manufacture in large quantities," stating that "a significant tension will continue to exist between the reality of the slow ramp-up of the production line and the strong accumulation of orders on paper." (Translation/Editing by Kitada)