C919 Deliveries Slump in Q1 2026 as Engine Shortages and Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Comac

C919 Deliveries Stall in Q1 2026, Highlighting Supply Chain and Geopolitical Challenges

Deliveries of China's home-grown C919 narrowbody airliner have slowed sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with only three units handed over to domestic carriers, according to data from airline records and UK-based aviation consultancy IBA, as reported by the South China Morning Post. The apparent stall underscores persistent challenges facing the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) as it seeks to challenge Boeing and Airbus in the single-aisle market.

Delivery Numbers and Targets

Two C919s were delivered to China Southern Airlines on February 5 and March 2, and one to Air China on March 27, with no shipments in January. Since the first delivery to China Eastern in December 2022, Comac has handed over a total of 35 C919s to airlines. In 2025, the company delivered 15 units, well short of an initial target of 75 that was revised after supply disruptions. For 2026, Comac reportedly aimed to produce about 28 units, but the first-quarter total suggests the company is falling behind its own schedule.

According to a source at Comac who spoke on condition of anonymity, production has continued this month, with two more aircraft assembled, but the pace remains slow. The source acknowledged that management's earlier expectations were overly optimistic. "Management initially thought increasing deliveries [of the C919] would be easy … Now we all know it was way too optimistic," the person said.

Engine Shortages and Supply Chain Constraints

Analysts and industry insiders point to engine shortages as the primary bottleneck. The C919 relies on the LEAP-1C engine, produced by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran. "It could again be C919s sitting with their wings bare – the CFM Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engines are not arriving," said Jason Zheng, an analyst with Shanghai-based consultancy Airwefly. "While planes wait for engines, engines wait for key parts like blades."

Shortages in high-performance turbine components have forced suppliers to prioritize established customers such as Boeing and Airbus, leaving newer entrants like Comac waiting. This dependency on foreign suppliers for critical systems, including engines and avionics, exposes the C919 programme to geopolitical risks. Last year, US export licensing restrictions disrupted engine deliveries and forced Comac to revise its output targets.

A source at Comac said the company is reassessing geopolitical risks to its supply chains, particularly for jet engines sourced from foreign firms. The source added that persistent manpower shortages and ongoing design and production optimizations also contribute to the slowdown. "Aircraft manufacturing has long and fiendishly complex supply chains … It involves a lot of planning and effort to add just one more jet to the delivery queue," the source said.

Quality Over Speed

Comac has maintained that quality will not be sacrificed for speed. Aviation analysts generally support this stance, arguing that prioritizing safety and reliability is the right long-term strategy for a new entrant. The slower delivery pace may also reflect efforts to ensure that aircraft meet rigorous standards before entering service.

European Certification Progress

In parallel with delivery challenges, China's aviation authorities are supporting Comac's push for European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. According to a source who participated in technical exchanges with EASA, the agency's technicians and pilots have been stationed in Shanghai for extended periods to conduct checks and in-flight tests. EASA is requiring additional test flights as part of the third phase of a four-stage certification process. Comac and Chinese airlines operating the C919, including China Eastern, have been providing historical and real-time data to EASA, including maintenance records from A and B checks on early aircraft.

The move is critical for the C919 to compete internationally, as European certification would allow sales to foreign airlines and signal global acceptance of the aircraft's safety and performance.

Outlook

Comac's immediate focus appears to be stabilizing its supply chain and meeting its revised production goals. However, the combination of engine shortages, geopolitical tensions, and the complexity of scaling up production suggests that the C919's ramp-up will remain gradual. As the company works through these constraints, its ability to diversify suppliers and reduce dependence on foreign components will be key to its long-term ambitions.