Airbus cuts 20-year single-aisle forecast by 470 aircraft as rail takes a larger share of domestic travel

Air China, China Eastern and China Southern reversed first-quarter profits as higher jet fuel prices and weak domestic conditions weighed on results

Domestic alternatives are already being tested as Beijing seeks to reduce one of the biggest vulnerabilities of its commercial aircraft industry

Shenzhen Airlines and Loong Air have expressed interest in the narrowbody, but limited production remains a major obstacle to expanding its operator base

Air China’s first international C919 flight was symbolic, but limited production, Western dependence and an untested support network keep COMAC far from the Airbus-Boeing duopoly

Air China will fly the Chinese narrowbody from Beijing to Mongolia on Wednesday, taking the aircraft beyond China on scheduled passenger service for the first time

C919-600 shortened variant is being developed for operations from airports on the Tibetan Plateau

Carrier says European certification remains an important condition before it considers the Chinese narrowbody

Guillaume Faury says competing against Airbus, Boeing and COMAC would require major investment and involve significant commercial risks

Shortened version of the C919 is being developed for operations at airports on the Tibetan Plateau and other high-altitude regions