Wan Quan/VCG via Getty Images
- Brazil's Total Linhas Aereas is in talks to buy up to four Comac C919 jets, Reuters reported.
- Supply chain problems have hindered Airbus and Boeing, opening opportunities for Comac.
- Brazil is also home to Embraer, but its planes have a smaller capacity than the Chinese jet.
Chinese planemaker Comac looks set to win its first order from a Western airline, Reuters reported, as Boeing and Airbus deal with supply-chain constraints.
Paulo Almada, the controlling partner of Total Linhas Aereas, a small charter and cargo airline based in Brazil, told the outlet that talks with Comac have been ongoing for months.
Reuters reported that he will visit Comac next month to discuss an order of up to four of its C919 jets. Total Linhas Aereas did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside Brazilian working hours.
The C919 is a narrowbody jet similar to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 Max. Comac hopes it will be able to compete with the industry leaders but it is a less advanced aircraft; its range is 500 miles less than the A320neo.
With over 1,000 orders — predominantly from Chinese airlines — it first entered commercial service in May 2023.
Comac appeared to make a breakthrough outside Southeast Asia when Reuters reported in May that it had held discussions with Saudi officials.
A presence in Brazil would be a major stepping stone for Comac's plans to expand and compete with the big players.
"The industry is dealing with supply shortages, but Comac told us they could deliver the aircraft by next March," Almada told Reuters.
Supply chain problems have seen Airbus struggle to ramp up production of the A320neo family, the world's most popular narrowbody jet. As of July, it reported a backlog of over 7,000 such aircraft.
Meanwhile, Boeing has reduced production of the 737 Max as it faces regulatory scrutiny in the wake of January's Alaska Airlines blowout.
The discussions between Comac and Total Linhas Aereas are also notable, given that Brazil is home to Embraer, a major manufacturer of regional jets.
Reuters reported that Embraer has delivery slots available in 2026, but its aircraft have a smaller capacity. The Embraer E195-E2 can seat up to 146 passengers, but the C919 can carry as many as 192.
The report added that Sen. Rogerio Carvalho of Brazil's ruling Workers Party, who took part in meetings with the airline, said Brazil would expect reciprocity with increased Chinese demand for Embraer jets.
If Total Linhas Aereas does end up operating the C919, it wouldn't be without risk. It's unclear how reliable the jet is, as data from Ch-aviation shows only nine are in operation, all with Chinese airlines. There's also a lack of a support network for the type in Brazil.
Speaking to "The Air Show" podcast in June, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said he was unconvinced by Comac as he hoped a competitor would break up the Airbus-Boeing duopoly.
Comac becoming a global player is "not inevitable, I think it's unlikely," he said.