Both are narrow-body passenger aircraft; the European Airbus A320 has been in operation since the 1980s, while China’s C919 is set to debut in 2024.
C919 is a narrow-body passenger aircraft measuring nearly 39 meters in length, with a capacity of 168 passengers and a maximum range of 4,075 kilometers. Its seating configuration is similar to Boeing 737 Max and A320/321 models, featuring a single aisle and two rows of seats, with three seats on each side.
The C919 is the first civilian aircraft designed and manufactured in China by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). Although the aircraft is produced in China, it primarily utilizes components sourced from the United States and Europe. The C919 is powered by the CFM International LEAP engines, a collaboration between American and French manufacturers, which are also used on the Airbus A320neo.
The design of the C919’s nose is quite similar to that of the A320 series. Its communication and navigation systems are installed in the aircraft’s nose and supplied by Rockwell Collins (USA). Additionally, several other components, such as wheels and brakes (Honeywell), aluminum fuselage skins (Acronic), and black boxes (GE), come from American manufacturers.
However, the tail and the four wings of the C919 are provided by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), a state-owned enterprise specializing in military and aerospace equipment manufacturing.
