by CHEN Yixuan

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), the state-owned builder of China's homegrown commercial jets, showcased its C919 narrow-body aircraft at the Dubai Airshow on Monday, marking the model's first appearance at a major Middle Eastern aviation event as China seeks customers in one of the world's most competitive and well-financed aviation markets.

The C919 — China's potential challenger to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 MAX — arrived with a C909 regional jet, formerly the ARJ21. A COMAC representative told Jiemian News the company aims to use the show to engage potential Middle Eastern buyers and raise visibility for both models.

The Middle East has become an important proving ground for new commercial aircraft, with local carriers continuing to expand fleets and reassess long-term capacity needs as regional networks grow. Analysts say a strong showing in Dubai will help indicate whether the C919 can gain traction beyond China and offer airlines a new option in the single-aisle market.

The C919 is already operating commercial routes with China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and COMAC is sharing operational data — including route coverage, utilization rates and dispatch reliability — with visiting carriers. The jet's performance in service with Chinese operators has become a reference point for potential buyers evaluating future fleet plans.

As of Monday morning, COMAC had not announced any overseas orders or framework agreements at the airshow. Talks so far have focused on technical evaluations and commercial assessments, and the company said this year's participation is centered on aircraft display rather than detailed after-sales or spare-parts planning.

COMAC is also exhibiting the C909, a regional jet aimed at the growing short-haul market. The company says the C909 and C919 form a complementary lineup spanning the regional and mainline segments and views the Dubai Airshow as a key platform to advance its overseas outreach.