Brazilian Airline Aims to Purchase Aircraft from China's COMAC Manufacturer

28 Sep, 2024

Brazilian Airline Aims to Purchase Aircraft from China's COMAC Manufacturer

Brazil's Total Linhas Aereas, a small cargo and charter airline, is making headlines as it seeks to become the first airline outside of Asia to purchase aircraft from China's state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation (COMAC). This potential deal marks a significant move as COMAC aims to penetrate a global passenger jet market largely dominated by Western manufacturers. The discussions between Total and COMAC have been ongoing for several months. Total's controlling partner, Paulo Almada, plans to visit COMAC in October to explore a potential order of up to four C919 planes.

In a development that could strengthen Brazil-China relations in the aviation sector, Brazilian Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho noted that Total has expressed its intentions to the government, although no formal proposal has been presented yet. However, skepticism remains regarding Total's business plan for the Chinese jets. Industry experts have raised concerns about the aircraft's reliability and the lack of support networks in Brazil, making the venture a risky choice despite the attractive pricing.

Almada explained that the airline's search for alternatives stemmed from traditional Western manufacturers, such as Airbus and Boeing, struggling to meet demand due to supply chain constraints. Although Brazil's Embraer offers production slots starting in 2026, they only provide passenger jets with fewer than 150 seats. COMAC, on the other hand, has indicated they could deliver the aircraft by March. Senator Rogerio Carvalho of the ruling Workers Party emphasized that this deal could be a "milestone" for Brazil, hoping for increased demand for Embraer jets in China as reciprocity. Despite the challenges, the aviation landscape between Brazil and China continues to evolve, with both countries eyeing greater collaboration.