C919
Brazilian airline TOTAL Linhas Aéreas is in advanced negotiations to acquire aircraft from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) to expand into the passenger market. This move aligns with the growing commercial ties between Brazil and China, highlighted by the upcoming visit of the Chinese Premier to Brazil in November.
In October, TOTAL executives will travel to China to evaluate the ARJ21, a regional jet seating 78 and 97 passengers, and the larger C919, which competes directly with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. While the C919 is not yet certified outside of Asia, COMAC aims to secure European certification (EASA) by 2025, opening the door for international sales.
COMAC offers a key advantage in delivering the first C919 units to TOTAL by March 2025, faster than Airbus, Boeing, or Embraer. China’s Development Bank (CDB) is offering to finance up to 80% of the purchase, with payment terms spread over 10 to 12 years, significantly supporting the deal.
The Chinese Premier’s upcoming visit to Brazil in November highlights the broader political context behind this potential acquisition. Strengthening aerospace ties between the two nations is expected to be a key part of the bilateral discussions, potentially accelerating the deal between TOTAL and COMAC.
The political implications of TOTAL’s deal are remarkable: China is interested in disembarking in developing markets worldwide with its commercial planes to contest the Airbus-Boeing duopoly, taking advantage of current supply chain and quality constraints, which will impact delivery and production rates.
The question of how Brazil and China would advance on a support structure for the airframes and how profitable the creation of that structure would be, considering that the only yet-to-be-signed order would comprise four planes, is still on the table.
As part of its expansion, TOTAL plans to establish its operations hub in Brasília and has reserved two ATR 72 aircraft to expand its fleet further. If the deal is finalized, TOTAL will become one of the first international operators of the COMAC C919, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese aircraft manufacturer in its bid to break into Western markets.
