The C919, a narrow-body jet designed to compete with Airbus’ A320 and Boeing’s 737, has so far been limited to Chinese airlines.
Nigeria’s civil aviation regulator says it is considering certifying China’s controversial C919 passenger jet for local carriers, opening the door for Beijing’s state-backed planemaker COMAC to break into Africa’s competitive aviation market.
Captain Chris Ona Najomo, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), disclosed this to Reuters on the sidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal, Canada.
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“We’re looking at the certification of the airplane. First of all, that is where we have to start,” Najomo said, stressing that the process would take months since the jet has not yet been validated by top Western regulators such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The C919, a narrow-body jet designed to compete with Airbus’ A320 and Boeing’s 737, has so far been limited to Chinese airlines. COMAC is now aggressively courting Nigeria and other African states as it struggles to secure credibility abroad.
Najomo confirmed that Chinese officials had offered Nigerian carriers incentives, including maintenance and pilot training packages, as well as proposals for dry lease deals; that is, aircraft leases that exclude crew and operational support.
“We just told them that if they can make sure they facilitate a good dry lease arrangement, it’s better,” he added.
Abdullahi Ahmed, Chief Executive of NG Eagle, one of Nigeria’s airlines, said his company was exploring fleet expansion beyond its three current aircraft. He indicated that COMAC planes could be considered, but only if NCAA certification and long-term support are guaranteed.
Industry analysts, however, warn that COMAC faces major hurdles. The C919 relies on engines from CFM International, a U.S.-French joint venture, and deliveries were already disrupted this year after Washington briefly halted exports as part of its trade war with Beijing.
Without Western certifications, global leasing companies remain wary of the Chinese jet.
Nigeria’s recent upgrade in the Aviation Working Group’s compliance ratings, tied to its observance of the Cape Town Convention, has boosted confidence in the country’s leasing environment. This has enabled the nation’s 13 airlines to gain better access to newer jets on the global market.
Still, experts question whether Nigeria’s embrace of COMAC signals a practical move to reduce dependence on Boeing and Airbus, or a politically driven gamble tied to Abuja’s warming ties with Beijing.
Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of the country’s troubled aviation sector. Despite a reported 43.6 percent fall in average real airfare between 2011 and 2023, flights remain unaffordable for millions in a country where per capita income has stagnated.