Chen Chuanren
February 15, 2024

C919

Comac’s C919 has landed outside Chinese territory for the first time ahead of the Singapore Air Show.

Credit: Chen Chuanren/Aviation Week Network

SINGAPORE — A Commack C919 and ARJ21 touched down in Singapore on a dimly lit Thursday afternoon ahead of the airliner’s debut at the International Air Show.

The two departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport in the morning and then briefly stayed in Sanya, Hainan Province. The C919 (reg. B-001F) then flew non-stop from Sanya to Singapore and landed at Changi Airport alongside commercial traffic. ARJ21 (reg. B-3322) followed closely behind, flying under Comac’s commercial arm Comac Express.

The Singapore Air Show is set to host the largest Chinese presence at an international air show post-COVID-19. The 2020 event saw the majority of Chinese exhibitors withdraw during the early stages of the pandemic. And in 2022, strict travel restrictions between China and Singapore will eliminate China’s presence.

ARJ21
Comac ARJ21 is preparing to land at Changi Airport. Credit: Chen Chuanren/Aviation Week Network

C919 will take part in the Flying Exhibition, one of only two solo exhibits at the show. The other aircraft is an Airbus A350-1000.

C919 made its first visit to Hong Kong outside mainland China in mid-December 2023. The Singapore stop marks the first time the aircraft has flown in international airspace across at least two air navigation service providers.

The ARJ21 is currently operated by the Chinese-backed Transnusa Airlines in neighboring Indonesia, but the aircraft has never appeared at an international show.

Airbus, Commack and Embraer will headline the Biennale’s commercial sector, as Boeing’s commercial aircraft are not participating in the Singapore Airshow.

Chen Chuanren

Chen Chuanren is Southeast Asia and China editor for Aviation Week Network (AWN)’s Air Transport World (ATW) and AWN’s Asia-Pacific defense correspondent, joining the team in 2017.