Chinese jets set to enter African aviation market

Chinese-made aircraft C919 is poised to enter the African aviation market, offering the continent's airlines more options in their fleet diversification and operational cost reduction strategies.

The C919 aircraft, developed by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, has a capacity of between 158 and 192 seats.

Abderahmane Berthe, secretary-general of the African Airlines Association, said the entry of Chinese-built aircraft into Africa will help to enhance connectivity and support fleet expansion across the continent.

He said Africa's air transport market has a lot of potential, noting air traffic in the continent is expected to double every 15 to 20 years.

This expected growth not only supports the expansion of air services but also underscores the need for localized facilities, particularly in maintenance, repair, and training, he said.

Berthe said the association has had exchanges with COMAC about C919 after an air show in Egypt last year, and expressed interest in cooperation so the Chinese-made passenger plane can contribute to the aviation development in Africa