China’s C919 Jet Faces Delays Amid US Trade Tensions

China’s ambitious plan to challenge Boeing and Airbus with its homegrown C919 jet is facing strong headwinds as trade tensions with the United States threaten to disrupt its production and delivery targets. The C919 aircraft, developed by state-owned COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), was hailed as a symbol of national pride and self-reliance when it made its maiden commercial flight in 2023. But now, its journey to global skies appears far from smooth.

The C919 jet, designed to rival Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’ A320, depends heavily on Western-sourced components despite being China’s flagship aviation project. With 48 major suppliers from the U.S. and dozens more from Europe, the jet’s production has become increasingly vulnerable amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions. Recent policy frictions and export restrictions have made it harder for COMAC to secure critical parts like avionics and engines.

According to aviation experts, COMAC’s C919 program faces “significant risk” from the volatile global trade environment. “Its supply chains are exposed to export restrictions and geopolitical bargaining,” said Max Zenglein, senior economist at The Conference Board. The jet’s LEAP-1C engines, jointly developed by GE Aerospace (U.S.) and Safran (France), require U.S. export clearance — a process that was temporarily suspended earlier this year, further delaying production.

China’s C919 jet program has made symbolic progress but struggles with real-world challenges. Despite ambitious goals to deliver 30 aircraft in 2025, only 7 have been delivered so far this year. Major Chinese airlines — Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern — are currently operating around 20 C919s collectively. The setbacks highlight the difficulty of scaling up production while ensuring safety and quality standards that match global aviation leaders.

Experts believe China’s aviation dream remains long-term. “The C919 needs strong economics, global support networks, and international certification to truly compete,” said Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory. Without certification from Western regulators such as the FAA or EASA, the C919 jet cannot fly internationally — limiting its operations to Chinese airspace for now.

Meanwhile, Airbus continues to expand its dominance in China, with plans to open a second assembly line by 2026 to boost production of its A320 series, the C919’s closest competitor. Industry analysts predict that while COMAC could strengthen its domestic presence in the late 2020s, breaking the Boeing-Airbus duopoly in the global market will take years — and overcoming export control barriers remains the biggest challenge.

Despite these hurdles, Beijing remains determined. The C919 jet represents more than an aircraft — it’s a statement of China’s technological independence and industrial power. As the country prepares for the next phase of global aviation, the world is watching whether the C919 can truly take off and change the balance of power in the skies.