Chinese passenger jet C919 performs near a fighter jet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China November 8, 2022. (China Daily via REUTERS)
BEIJING: China staged a low-key but historic debut of its C919 civil jet at its biggest air show on Tuesday, with some delegates unable to attend the scaled-down event because of Beijing's zero-COVID policy as cases reached the highest level in six months.
In a reminder of the continuing health crisis slowing China's return to global aviation, organisers of Airshow China in the southern city of Zhuhai had urged attendees to arrive three days early because of COVID-19 precautions.
Even then, some were blocked from joining day one because they had visited a Beijing district that had positive cases last week, three attendees told Reuters.
A China-based executive at a Western engine maker said a lot of Beijing-based delegates had returned home in frustration, though some were allowed in at the last minute.
Organisers did not respond to a request for comment.
An AVIC AG600M Kunlong, an amphibious aircraft, performs at the Airshow China 2022 in Zhuhai in southern China's Guangdong province on November 8, 2022. (Photo by CNS / AFP)
China's zero-COVID policy has hampered its domestic aviation industry and kept international traffic at a tiny fraction of pre-pandemic levels as Western carriers rebound sharply.
The zero-COVID policy comes amid a broader decoupling from the West as China aims for increased self-reliance amid the effects of strict export sanctions placed on Russian aviation after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
"Zhuhai is of intense interest to China aviation spotters, and missing the show is a significant lost opportunity for those seeking to understand China's opaque commercial and defence aerospace sectors," said Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of FlightGlobal.
Tuesday's opening marked the first time Western plane giants Airbus and Boeing have shared the stage with China's new COMAC C919 single-aisle jet at the showpiece event.
The newly certified homegrown rival to the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX took part in the show's flying display for the first time, performing sharp 45-degree turns in green, white and blue livery.
Earlier, four J-20 stealth fighter jets streaked by in close formation.
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) reported orders from leasing firms for 300 C919s and 30 ARJ21 regional jets.
As with previous announcements, it was not immediately clear how many were firm orders or expressions of interest. COMAC plans the first C919 delivery to China Eastern in December.
Turning point
Analysts say it will be some time before the C919 cracks open an entrenched Airbus-Boeing market duopoly outside China, but Tuesday's display marked a turning point 10 years after first orders were unveiled at the same event.
By contrast, the sun was setting in China on Tuesday on one of Europe's most visible global symbols, the double-decker A380.
Tracking website FlightRadar24 said China Southern Airlines operated its last A380 flight from Los Angeles on Tuesday. The airline did not answer a request for comment.
Production of the world's largest jetliner ended last year after weak sales including a near-failure to conquer China's market. An auction of A380 parts was held in France last month.
