China's Major Airlines in Advanced Talks for Large COMAC C919 Jet Orders
China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines are reportedly in advanced discussions to purchase a significant number of C919 passenger jets from Chinese manufacturer COMAC. Sources familiar with the matter suggest each airline could be considering an order for as many as 100 aircraft. This potential deal marks a major step for the C919 program, which aims to challenge the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. China Eastern, the launch customer for the aircraft, is already slated to receive its first C919 by the end of the year. A large-scale order from the nation's top carriers would signal strong domestic confidence in the homegrown jet.