At the Singapore Airshow, exhibition halls are lined with models, simulated cockpits and interactive displays showcasing the latest in commercial aircraft and aviation technology.
One stand particularly attracts attention: that of Comac, the Chinese state-owned aircraft manufacturer, which has made significant progress since its C919 airliner flew to Singapore on its first trip outside Chinese territory two years ago.
The plane is designed to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX and is increasingly targeting markets beyond China.
For Comac, the air show is an opportunity to position itself as a potential rival to Airbus and Boeing in Asia-Pacific, the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, at a time when airlines are grappling with delivery delays and strained supply chains.
“I think over time Comac will become a global competitor… but it will take them time,” Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told the BBC.
“I think in 10 or 15 years we will be talking about Boeing, Airbus and Comac… But without a doubt they will be a considerable player in the future.”
The Singapore Airshow is an influential exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region [Getty Images]
There is certainly a need for another aircraft manufacturer in Asia-Pacific, analysts say.
The region’s airlines are feeling the pressure from delivery delays at Boeing and Airbus, compounded by an engine shortage and wider supply chain bottlenecks.
Uncertainty over tariffs and trade tensions have further complicated challenges in the manufacturing sector, affecting sourcing and growth strategy in the region.
IATA data shows international carriers are waiting longer than ever for new planes, driving up average fleet age and operating costs because older planes are less fuel efficient.
Walsh said airlines in the Asia-Pacific region could see double-digit growth in 2026 if the planes were available. “It’s incredibly frustrating for airlines. The wait from order to delivery is about seven years,” he said.
This is why Comac is emerging as another option for many airlines in the Asia-Pacific region.
More than 150 Comac aircraft are in active service in China and its aircraft also operate in Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. Brunei’s GallopAir has placed a large order for Comac planes, and Cambodia also plans to purchase around 20 planes.
“We need more suppliers in the supply chain,” said Subhas Menon, director general of the Association for Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). “The problem with this industry is that the supply chain is an oligopoly and sometimes even a duopoly.”
“We have been waiting for this for a long time. Comac is a welcome introduction. Above all, we need more suppliers in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The company is in a good position thanks to strong government support, and lower prices may make its planes attractive to low-cost airlines in emerging markets.
“In the future, we welcome all new entrants. We want to see more competition. Comac had to go through its certification process and at some point in the 2030s we think this will be attractive to ourselves and to other carriers,” Mike Szucs, chief executive of Philippine low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, told the BBC.
Airbus presents its flagship A350-1000 aircraft, a large-capacity long-haul passenger aircraft [Getty Images]
As well as expanding into Asia Pacific, Comac is also pursuing European certification, with regulators carrying out test flights on its C919. This would allow it to sell to European carriers.
However, there is still a long way to go.
European certification could take until 2028, or even 2031, regulators estimate. At the same time, harmonizing a mix of Chinese and Western parts, flight controls and software also presents technical challenges for international orders.
Maintenance and repair infrastructure is another obstacle, as is pilot training – areas where manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus have had infrastructure and systems in place for decades.
And in Asia Pacific, Comac has some competition beyond Boeing and Airbus.
Brazil’s Embraer has established a foothold in the region, while Singapore’s budget airline Scoot, Virgin Australia and Japan’s All Nippon Airlines (ANA) have placed orders for Embraer jets.
Meanwhile, Boeing and Airbus remain strong presences at the Singapore Airshow and in the region as a whole. Both manufacturers are signaling to local carriers that aircraft delivery delays, which have frustrated airlines for years, are starting to improve.
“We are happy to say that we may be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mike Szucs of Cebu Pacific.
Questions also arise about Comac’s order numbers. It has previously said it has ordered more than 1,000 C919 passenger planes from Chinese airlines, but only a dozen have been delivered so far.
And verifying these order numbers is difficult because Comac is a Chinese state-owned company and not publicly traded like Boeing or Airbus.
Unless Comac can resolve some or all of these issues, Boeing and Airbus will likely continue to control the skies over the Asia-Pacific.
