Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC used the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 to showcase its expanding commercial aviation ambitions, displaying its domestically developed passenger jets as China seeks a larger share of the global aerospace market.
The state-owned planemaker exhibited models of its C909 regional jet, C919 narrowbody aircraft and the C929 widebody jet, which remains under development, at one of the world's largest aerospace exhibitions.
The display comes as COMAC looks to build on growing domestic demand and expand overseas, challenging the long-standing dominance of Airbus and Boeing in the commercial aircraft market.
The company said its C909 regional jet is now operating on 25 international routes linking 28 cities in countries including Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam, carrying more than 1 million passengers outside mainland China.
COMAC is also preparing to launch the C919's first scheduled international route. Flag carrier Air China said the narrowbody aircraft will begin daily commercial flights between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on August 12, marking another milestone in the aircraft's international rollout.
Beyond COMAC, more than a dozen Chinese aerospace suppliers participated in the airshow under a dedicated China Pavilion, highlighting the country's growing capabilities in aircraft components, advanced materials and manufacturing.
Industry executives said global supply chain disruptions and record aircraft backlogs are creating opportunities for new suppliers, including Chinese manufacturers.
According to ADS Group, the U.K. aerospace trade association, the global commercial aircraft backlog reached a record 16,925 aircraft by the end of June, underscoring the gap between airline demand and manufacturers' production capacity.
George Xu, chief executive of Airbus China, said China's integrated manufacturing base, skilled workforce and mature industrial supply chain could help ease production bottlenecks facing the global aerospace industry.
Airbus has expanded its manufacturing presence in China with a second A320-family final assembly line in Tianjin, while COMAC and China's emerging electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector continue to increase investment in aviation manufacturing.
The Farnborough International Airshow, which runs through Friday, has attracted more than 1,600 exhibitors from around the world and serves as a key venue for aircraft manufacturers, suppliers and governments to announce new partnerships, orders and technology initiatives.
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