Summary

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged China’s Comac as a rising competitor, potentially transforming the Airbus-Boeing duopoly into a “triopoly.”

Comac’s C919, a single-aisle jet similar to the A320 and 737 Max, is gaining traction with over 1,000 orders, primarily in China.

While still awaiting US and EU certification, Comac is expanding internationally, engaging with Saudi and Brazilian airlines.

Its success hinges on scaling production amid supply chain challenges. Airbus, recognizing the threat, is increasing A320 production in China to maintain its competitive edge.

  • tal@lemmy.today
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    7 days ago

    I mean, it was going to happen at some point, just a matter of China scaling up.

    It was a testing year for Airbus’ defense and space division. While its order intake was a record 16.7 billion euros, it reported a loss of 566 million euros — largely due to a 1.3 billion euro charge on its space programs.

    looks blank

    I didn’t even realize that Airbus did space.

    I thought that the big domestic player in European space was Ariane.

    goes hunting

    Ahhh.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArianeGroup

    Owners

    • Airbus (50%)
    • Safran (50%)

    Ariane is half-owned by Airbus.

    • GrosPapatouf@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Arianespace is only building and operating launchers. Airbus is also the biggest satellite manufacturer in Europe. They’re in crisis right now, same as their direct European competitor Thales Alenia Space, due to Starlink destroying the traditional space Telecom market, of which they were leaders.

      • BastingChemina@slrpnk.net
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        6 days ago

        Yes, a few years ago when I was manufacturing aircraft engines (the LEAP specifically) we had three variants of the same engine.

        A, B and C for the Airbus A320 neo, Boeing 737 Max and Comac c919.

  • stoly@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    I can’t see western companies letting them get much traction, but frankly, some competition would be good.

    • golli@lemm.ee
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      6 days ago

      Can they really stop them from gaining traction? The Chinese domestic market over which they have no control and some third party allies like Brazil seem large enough to support them scaling up.

      They could go scorched earth with tariffs and export restrictions, but that would only hinder them in the medium term and make them double their efforts.

      • stoly@lemmy.world
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        6 days ago

        I was saying that US and European airlines are not likely to purchase them.

      • stoly@lemmy.world
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        6 days ago

        Part of it is also capacity. Every order to Boeing or Airbus takes years to fulfill because there is a giant backlog.

  • innermeerkat@jlai.lu
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    7 days ago

    They hid one A320 for months to copy everything they could and now want to flood the world market. I hope the EU never gives them certification, nor the US.

  • catloaf@lemm.ee
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    7 days ago

    Get back to me once it meets international safety standards.