Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 15, 2026
LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Europe's aviation safety regulator EASA on Thursday confirmed reports that it had carried out test flights of the COMAC C-919 jet as it carries out "validation activities" as part of its certification process.
The South China Morning Post on Thursday reported that EASA had carried out test flights of the Chinese jet in Shanghai as it assesses the safety of COMAC's jets.
EASA safety certification would allow Chinese planemaker COMAC to expand its global footprint to Western players. As it stands, European and other Western carriers can't fly the planemaker's jets.
(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska; Editing by Susan Fenton)
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is responsible for ensuring safety and environmental protection in air travel within Europe.
Aircraft certification is the process by which an aircraft is tested and approved for safety and compliance with aviation regulations.
The COMAC C-919 is a narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) aimed at competing with Western aircraft.
Aviation safety certification is crucial as it ensures that aircraft are safe for operation, which is essential for passenger safety and regulatory compliance.
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