China's civil aviation authority has proposed easing runway requirements for the home-grown C919 passenger jet, aiming to boost its domestic presence and open access to Southeast Asian markets, reported Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China stated it had set 'special conditions' allowing the C919 to operate on narrower runways, citing the aircraft's design features. A draft proposal has been released for a 10-working-day public comment period.

The C919, built by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), was originally restricted to runways at least 45 metres wide, a standard at major airports. The regulator now plans to reduce the minimum width to 30 metres to meet market demand.

Officials indicated that the change would allow the C919 to serve most Chinese airports, including regional facilities, thereby strengthening its competitiveness against Boeing and Airbus models. Narrower runways are common at smaller airports across China.

The regulator noted that while 45 metres is the global standard, Boeing's 737 and Airbus's A320 also use 30-metre runways in some cases. The draft plan is open to a 10-day public comment period before being finalized, with officials citing market demand as the driving force.

The rollout of the C919 has been slower than expected, with only 15 aircraft sold in 2025 compared to a projection of 75. China continues to push for recognition alongside Boeing and Airbus as a world-class manufacturer.

The South China Morning Post recently reported that COMAC's next model, the C929, may debut earlier than the original 2035 target. The wide-body aircraft is positioned against Boeing's 787 and Airbus's A350 and is expected to feature a domestically built CJ-2000 engine.

Analysts assert that China is the only country with the capacity to challenge Boeing and Airbus in the commercial airline market. However, both the C919 and C929 have already missed targets in sales and timelines, leaving questions over their international uptake.

Widen

China Eases Runway Rules to Boost C919 Jet's Market Reach