China is intensifying its efforts to obtain international recognition for its flagship passenger aircraft, the C-919. At the upcoming summit with the European Union, scheduled for July in the Chinese capital, Beijing intends to place the issue of European certification of the airplane at the forefront, a crucial step for its ambitions in the global aviation market.

The C-919, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), is the first narrow-body plane entirely designed and built in China. Comac, a state-owned aerospace company based in Shanghai, has been working on the project since 2008. The model, which made its maiden flight in 2017 and has already begun operating on domestic routes, is configured to accommodate between 158 and 190 passengers and offers a flight range from approximately 4,075 to 5,555 kilometers. The C-919 was conceived to compete directly with established models such as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A-320.

For Beijing, obtaining certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is a strategic objective. According to sources close to the talks, the safety evaluation process could be facilitated by a favorable commercial context. It is no secret that China has a long history of using aircraft orders as diplomatic leverage. A significant new purchase of Airbus aircraft by Beijing, an event that has already occurred in the past, could accelerate the C-919’s certification process, further strengthening the link between China and the European giant.

This dynamic takes on particular significance in light of the current trade tensions between the United States and China. Tariffs and complex economic relations have put pressure on Chinese trade relations with Boeing, pushing Beijing to favor alternative suppliers (see related reports AVIONEWS 1, 2, 3, 4, and related links). Consequently, a progressively privileged relationship between China and Airbus seems to have consolidated, with the latter benefiting from significant orders, reinforcing its dominant position in the vast Chinese market.

The July summit will see participation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, together with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The agenda for the talks will be broad and will include, beyond aviation, crucial topics such as electric vehicle trade and the threats of new tariffs from the United States. Within this continuously evolving geopolitical framework, the last-minute news regarding agreements reached by US President Trump with China on rare minerals and the easing of visa restrictions for Chinese students heading to the USA adds an additional element of complexity and uncertainty to international relations.