Comac’s planes fly almost exclusively within China and with one Indonesian airline, and the company is planning expansion internationally.
Comac recently showcased its aircraft around South-east Asia, as it mulls certification with Europe’s aviation regulator for the C919 narrow-body jet.
Saudi Arabia's Aviation group "Saudia Group" has offered the Chinese plane maker Comac to set up an assembly line in Jeddah, which could be seen as the reinforcement of increasing ties between Saudi Arabia and China in Aerospace manufacturing sector, if realized.
On the sidelines of the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh,Saudia spokesman Abdullah Alshahran briefed the press that KSA's flag bearer, Saudia, is also in talks with Comac to get an in depth understanding the specifications and performance of its C919 narrow-body jet.
Earlier this week, Shanghai-based Comac's chairman He Dongfeng visited the headquarters of the Saudia Group in Jeddah and toured aviation services provider Saudia Technic's MRO Village, said Mr Alshahrani.
He Dongfeng told the aviation conference in Riyadh on Tuesday (May 21),
“Comac envisions enhancing global connectivity and diversity by contributing to Saudi Arabia’s aviation transportation development.”
The maintenance, repair and overhaul complex, covering about one million square metres, is set to be completed in 2025 and expected to house the manufacturing operations of global aerospace companies.
Mr Alshahrani said,
“We presented to him the manufacturing opportunities on this large site … he showed interest in the potential opportunity for Comac to be present in the Middle East. These are all discussions and there are no decisions made.”
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudia Group aim to transform Saudia Technic into a “national MRO champion” by investing in infrastructure, improving efficiency and capturing market growth in Saudi Arabia over the next decade
Chinese COMAC C919 and ARJ21 at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia for potential customers.
Asked by National News, why Comac would consider opening a plant in a region where it does not currently sell its aircraft, he said the potential opportunity would help the plane maker to diversify its manufacturing base and to establish a presence in the Middle East's fast-growing aviation sector.
These developments are taking shape after the visit by a high-level Saudi civil aviation delegation to Comac's headquarters in Shanghai in February, the assembly line of C919 and ARJ21 aircraft. Saudi Transport Minister Saleh Al Jasser visited Comac's production plant earlier.
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, aims to grow its domestic manufacturing sector to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons, create jobs for citizens, attract foreign investment and create a strong private sector.
It is linking up with international companies to build its manufacturing sector, share technical knowledge, develop local capabilities, train citizens and open production sites in the kingdom.
Saudia Group, the parent company of Saudia and budget carrier flyadeal, placed an order for 105 Airbus narrow-body aircraft recently, its biggest till date, wants to learn more about the specification and performance of COMAC jets, Mr Alshahrani said,
“Saudia is open to explore all types of planes and we're in discussions with Comac to know more about the C919,”
“Are we interested in knowing the aircraft, the flight control, the specifications? Yes.
“We want to know more about its [performance] record because only a small number of planes are flying at the moment. This is not just with Comac, even with planes by other manufacturers, we would like to have a menu of aircraft options that we can consider.”
On the road map of the development, he said, no decisions have been made and the talks are only at an exploratory stage.
In the Aviation industry, Comac is pushing its product C919 as a sustainable alternative to the European Airbus A320neo and American Boeing's 737 Max, amid high post pandemic market demand for new aircraft, specifically when Boeing struggles owing to a series of crises.
The Chinese plane maker is trying its best to take have a sizeable market presence internationally, but has not been able to influence major carriers and operators to buy its product.
Recently, Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr downplayed the accepatance of COMAC jets, saying they are into an exemplary record of safety in aviation, he said,
"Given the safety standards we apply at the Lufthansa Group, I don't think that's realistic for the coming years," said Carsten Spohr.
About the business of COMAC, most of its orders are domestic, and currently are from Chinese carriers and leasing companies. But Abdullah Alshahrani sees COMAC's interest in Middle-east, he said,
“We see that there is a seriousness about producing a reliable aircraft and we see the manufacturer's interest in the region.”
A Saudia Group delegation will visit Comac's plant in Shanghai by the end of this year for meetings and a flight demonstration, Mr AlShahrani informed.
As per Mr AlShahrani, the closer ties between the two countries “supports and accelerates” their economic partnerships and agreements.
If state-owned Comac decides to establish an assembly line in the kingdom, it would receive support from the Ministry of Investment as the move is in line with efforts to localise aircraft production, said Mr AlShahrani. He said,
All doors will be open to Comac to have a manufacturing presence in the kingdom
Mr Dongfeng, Comac's chairman, on the other hand, wooed the Saudi Arabian market on Tuesday during an address to the Future Aviation Forum.
As per Mr. Dongfeng, plane maker can help Saudi Arabia boost its air connectivity in three ways, he said. First, its C919 narrow-body can serve the domestic market given the kingdom's vast territory, strong economy and the need to transport people and goods.
Second, it can connect Saudi Arabia with neighbouring markets that are home to a combined population of 500 million people and 180 airports across the Arabian peninsula, the Mena region and Turkey.
Third, Comac's coming C929 wide-body jet can help the kingdom establish itself as a global air transport hub.
“We hope that with the development of Comac, we can bring more dynamism and innovation to the industry and also more choices to our customers, and provide more opportunities to our suppliers,” he said.
Display Picture Courtesy : BZLang
