China's C919 Dream Hits Rough Air Over Trade Spats

China's shiny new passenger jet, the C919, was supposed to soar high this year, carrying dreams of a homegrown rival to Airbus etc. Instead, it's stuck on the ground, grounded by snags in production and fresh headaches from U.S.-China trade rifts.

As of October 2025, the story feels like a reminder that even big ambitions can get bounced around by global politics.The C919 comes from COMAC, a state-owned company in Shanghai that's been pouring billions into this single-aisle plane since the early 2010s. It's built for about 160 passengers, much like the Airbus A320 etc that dominate short-haul flights.

Last year, COMAC handed over 13 of these jets to major Chinese airlines—Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern. Those carriers now operate around 20 in total, mostly on domestic routes. But this year? Only seven deliveries so far. The goal was 30 by December, yet supply issues have slashed that hope. Blame a mix of factors, but trade tensions top the list. The jet's LEAP-1C engines, crafted by U.S. firm GE Aerospace and France's Safran, need American export approvals to reach China.

Back in May 2025, the U.S. paused those licenses amid escalating disputes over tech and tariffs. They relaunched in July, but the alternating pauses disrupted the assembly line flow. Experts like Dan Taylor from aviation firm point out how this reliance on Western parts leaves the project exposed to sudden policy flips. It's not just engines—avionics and other tech face similar hurdles. And while COMAC ramps up a new factory, these delays mean fewer planes for China's booming skies.

Why care? China plans to add nearly 10,000 passenger jets by 2044, per Airbus forecasts, with most being models like the C919. Right now, breaking into Western markets looks tough without safety nods from bodies like the FAA. If COMAC withstands this period, the C919 may redefine flight trajectories with successive departures.

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