COMAC Doesn’t Need To Beat Airbus Or Boeing To Fracture The Airliner Market

While many analysts may look at the COMAC C919 and other series aircraft through an economic lens and assess their ability to compete with Airbus and Boeing, this article will argue that the more helpful lens is geopolitical. It will argue that COMAC aircraft are state-backed political efforts and do not fit neatly into free-market analysis. Aircraft like the C919 don’t need to be as fuel-efficient as the Airbus A320neo or the Boeing 737 MAX. They do not necessarily need to be the best aircraft available; they need to be good enough to provide a viable alternative to Western aircraft, particularly when political, financial, or strategic considerations favor Chinese suppliers.