People watch the Bayi aerobatic team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force perform at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China, on Nov 8.BEIJING – China staged a low-key but historic debut of its C919 civil jet at its biggest air show on Tuesday , with some delegates unable to attend the scaled-down event because of Beijing's zero-Covid policy as cases reached the highest level in six months.
The zero-Covid policy comes amid a broader decoupling from the West as China aims for increased self-reliance amid the effects of strict export sanctions placed on Russian aviation after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. As with previous announcements, it was not immediately clear how many were firm orders or expressions of interest. Comac plans the first C919 delivery to China Eastern in December.Analysts say it will be some time before the C919 cracks open an entrenched Airbus-Boeing market duopoly outside China, but Tuesday's display marked a turning point 10 years after first orders were unveiled at the same event.
Analysts say Airbus does however enjoy brisk demand for the best-selling A320neo, buoyed by US tensions that have delayed renewed Boeing MAX deliveries following a safety crisis.