China’s BizAv Sector Continues to Soar: My recent visit to COMAC

China’s BizAv Sector Continues to Soar: My recent visit to COMAC: Over the past decade, the global aviation community has watched China evolve into a major player in business aviation. Not only has its population, strategic interests, and economic strength made it a major global market for business jets, but it has also expanded into a hub for aerospace innovation by moving away from importing aircraft and focussing on R&D. Hubs like Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’an have been heavily invested in with private companies, governments, and universities collaborating to create innovation ecosystems that will fortify the future of Chinese aviation. This has seen the country quickly evolve into a leading force in aviation technology… something I recently experienced for myself.

I was honoured to be welcomed as a guest to COMAC in Shanghai alongside UAS Executive Vice President, Kevin Yun, and UAS Regional Director – China, Kevin Zheng. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd) is setting the standard in the research and development, manufacturing and testing of civil aircraft in the Asia Pacific. It is an impressive aerospace enterprise that operates a massive manufacturing and research facility; the primary production centre for COMAC’s C919 narrow-body jetliner.

As of 2025, the C919 has received more than 750 domestic orders and entered commercial service with Chinese airlines, marking a significant milestone in the country’s civil aviation history. According to a recent article by Simple Flying 10 Key Trends Shaping Global Air Travel By 2043 , COMAC appears that the only company that could challenge the Airbus and Boeing duopoly in the near or medium term. Quite the global sector game-changer!

What I saw during my visit to COMAC is a thriving and exciting aviation ecosystem that is boundlessly ambitious and positive. China’s trajectory seems unstoppable… It’s a dynamic, domestically driven, globally connected industry that is reshaping APAC. I’m eager to see what the future holds.