Aircraft C919 from China delayed on European runway, timeline for certification lengthened
Hold up, flight fanatics! Here's the lowdown on the C919, the Chinese narrowbody jet that's creating quite a buzz. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has set their sights on this baby, but they ain't gonna give the coveted endorsement this year. Here's why.
On a Monday back in April 2025, Florian Guillermet, EASA's big boss, casually dropped the bomb in French mag L'Usine Nouvelle. According to Guillermet, the C919 ain't gettin' certified in 2025. Instead, he mentioned a timeline of 3 to 6 years for their approval.
Naturally, this didn't faze Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the C919's manufacturer. Despite the setback, they're still gunning for a major overseas market. Skepticism from the regulators? They've heard it all before.
Aviation analyst Li Hanming weighed in, stating the C919's reliability and safety need to be proven with more flights. He reckoned it's only normal for the regulators to exercise caution and scrutiny.
The C919 took its first commercial flight in May 2023, and since then, it's been clocking miles on various domestic flight paths. By January 2025, this Chinese jet's gotten more than a million passengers in the air. But it ain't just cruisin' around China—it's also flying in Hong Kong.
Now, mark your calendars, folks. Based on EASA's timeline (given by Guillermet), the C919 could get the green light from Europe between 2028 and 2031. So if you're waitin' to fly on this China-made beauty, buckle up, because we got a few years left!
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has officially stated that the C919 won't receive their endorsement in 2025. Instead, EASA's boss, Florian Guillermet, mentioned a timeline of 3 to 6 years for their approval. Despite the setback, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) remains optimistic about securing a major overseas market. Aviation analyst Li Hanming suggests that the C919's reliability and safety need to be further proven, especially considering the sceptical attitude of regulators towards new aerospace technology. As of 2025, the C919 has flown more than a million passengers domestically and internationally, with flights in Hong Kong as well. Based on EASA's timeline, the C919 could receive approval between 2028 and 2031.
