China’s C919 jet poised to tackle ageing domestic fleet: industry official
High maintenance and fuel costs squeeze Chinese airlines as replacement rates lag, while Comac’s home-grown model seen as buffer against supply-chain hurdles
China’s massive civil aviation fleet is ageing faster than planes are being replaced, threatening to saddle airlines with higher costs, but orders for home-grown C919 jets could help stem the tide, according to the head of north Asia for the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Current aircraft replacements are failing to reach 2019 levels despite recent orders of Airbus and Boeing jets, IATA regional vice-president Xie Xingquan said at the industry group’s annual general meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, responding to an audience question about any lift from those orders.
Since 2020, the number of aircraft over 20 years old has outpaced new deliveries, depressing replacement rates below the threshold needed for a “stable fleet age”, Xie said in a YouTube webcast on Saturday during the IATA event. The fleet now “risks continued ageing” despite previously ranking among the world’s youngest.
A maturing fleet augurs higher operating costs for airlines, Xie noted. Older planes require more stringent mechanical oversight, higher labour outlays and increased fuel consumption, among other setbacks, the IATA has found.
Maintenance of older aircraft is particularly capital-intensive due to the need for “durable parts”, according to independent aviation analyst Li Hanming.
“This is actually counted as a depreciation of assets, but you still have to take cash flow out of your pocket,” Li said.