On Wednesday, May 27th, according to Bloomberg, sources revealed that Beijing has been delaying the delivery of aircraft from the European company Airbus in an attempt to pressure Europe to expedite approval for China’s C919 aircraft.
Certification for a new aircraft model typically takes several years, but China aims to complete the certification in a shorter time frame. The final approval decision will be made by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
In the past few months, sources disclosed that the Civil Aviation Administration of China has been postponing the final administrative approval process, allowing Airbus aircraft to enter the Chinese market and be put into operation. This Chinese move is to express dissatisfaction with the slow approval of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) C919 aircraft by European regulatory authorities. Due to the involvement of confidential information, these sources have requested anonymity.
Airbus delivered the lowest number of commercial aircraft in the first quarter since 2009. The company stated that part of the reason was “administrative” issues that led to nearly 20 aircraft not being delivered to China.
In April, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury predicted that deliveries would return to normal by the end of June but declined to reveal more details. He visited China at the end of April and met with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.
Data compiled by Cirium shows that Airbus only delivered 16 aircraft to Chinese airlines in the first five months of this year, compared to 47 aircraft delivered during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, China’s COMAC is seeking certification for its C919 model in the European Union, marking the first time the model is seeking such certification outside of Asia. The C919, marketed as a product of China, heavily incorporates Western technology in its engines and aviation systems but is priced competitively, aiming to directly compete with Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
Currently, the aircraft model is only operational in China.
On the other hand, if tensions surrounding COMAC continue or escalate, it could potentially endanger Airbus’s leading position in the Chinese market. In terms of fleet size, China is Airbus’s largest customer.
Airbus has cited Faury’s previous comments, stating that China’s delay in receiving the aircraft was a minor incident and has been resolved.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), and COMAC did not respond to Bloomberg’s requests for comments.
Previously, the French newspaper “La Tribune” also reported on Beijing’s pressure on Europe based on the accounts of two anonymous executives.