Comac

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The Laotian government has agreed to sell a 49% stake in Lao Airlines to China’s Comac.; the state will retain the remaining 51% share of the flag carrier.

Beyond Airbus and Boeing, only Embraer is progressing in terms of ramping up deliveries, with both ATR and Comac set for an underwhelming performance for 2025.

Several major aircraft order deals are on the radar for airlines in the Asia-Pacific region.

September saw mixed fortunes in terms of aircraft deliveries at ATR, Comac and Embraer, with shipments at two of the three down year on year for the first nine months.

While the pace of aircraft orders from Asia-Pacific airlines has eased, there are potential orders on the radar that could boost the region’s total this year.

A recent study has flagged another potential threat to the strategic supply chain—a possible chokehold on a rare metal essential to high-performance engines.

Combined aircraft deliveries from ATR, Comac and Embraer are 21% down so far this year compared to the same point in 2024.

MRO activity in the Asia-Pacific region and China is expected to grow modestly compared with quickly expanding fleets there.

Increased government involvement in airliner sales will shape the industry in three ways—none of them good.

Deliveries from the three smaller commercial airliner manufacturers fell in the month of July as ATR, Comac and Embraer all saw month-on-month declines.

As expanding wind tunnel test capability emerges in China, NASA prepares to mothball similar test sites under pressure from shrinking budgets.

Satellite images of China’s vast wind-tunnel complex suggest the existence of a nearly complete cryogenic facility able to test large transonic transport aircraft while NASA is preparing to mothball several sites because of budget issues.

The first half of 2025 saw Embraer stay consistent with the prior year in terms of airliner deliveries but neither Comac or ATR could match their 2024 output.

GE Aerospace confirmed July 7 that engine deliveries into China have resumed.

AirAsia may be preparing to announce a significant Airbus aircraft order soon, as it continues negotiations with manufacturers.

Looking at commercial aircraft deliveries in May from manufacturers beyond Airbus and Boeing shows that Comac handed over the highest number of aircraft to customers.

China's Comac has provided an update on its airliner programs at the Paris Air Show, laying out a timeline for new narrowbody developments and future widebodies.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Indonesia has added China’s Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter to its expanding list of prospective combat aircraft.

Approval by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2028 could align auspiciously with Comac’s planned C919 production ramp-up.

Airbus and Boeing's monopoly days will almost surely be a thing of the past—at least in a handful of global markets.

Ryanair, Boeing’s largest customer in Europe, warns that tariff costs may cause it to look beyond its orderbook with the U.S. aircraft manufacturer.

Earlier this week, an industry anniversary passed: 20 years ago, the Airbus A380 performed its first flight in Toulouse.

The Comac C919 may receive its European certification in 3-6 years, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Executive Director Florian Guillermet said.