China introduced the primary supply of its new home jetliner, the C919 – Copyright CNS/AFP –
China introduced on Friday the primary supply of its new domestically produced passenger jet, with the plane anticipated to make its industrial debut early subsequent yr.
Beijing hopes the C919 will problem international fashions such because the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320, regardless that most of its elements come from overseas.
The primary mannequin of the narrow-body jet, which seats 164 passengers, was formally handed over to China Jap Airways throughout a ceremony at a Shanghai airport, state media reported.
The transfer marked “an vital milestone” within the journey of China’s aviation business, state broadcaster CCTV stated.
Footage broadcast on Friday by CCTV confirmed the China Jap-marked jet standing on a rain-swept airfield and gave a glimpse contained in the aircraft’s cabin.
The state-owned Industrial Plane Corp of China (COMAC) gave the airline a “commemorative key to the world’s first C919”, CCTV reported.
COMAC stated at an air present final month that it had secured orders for 300 C919s, however didn’t make clear whether or not the orders have been totally confirmed and gave no particulars on the worth of the offers or supply dates.
But when the orders undergo, they’d convey the variety of recognized presents for the C919 to over 1,100, based mostly on figures from earlier COMAC statements.
Home media beforehand reported that 4 plane have been anticipated to be delivered to China Jap – the nation’s second largest airline by passenger numbers – by the top of the yr earlier than getting into service within the first quarter of 2023.
China closed a deal for Airbus jets price $17 billion earlier this yr, and the corporate started manufacturing its A321 mannequin within the northeastern metropolis of Tianjin final month.
The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded in China since 2019 after two deadly crashes, though the airline big stated in July that it may very well be accepted for supply by Chinese language regulators this yr.
However lingering commerce tensions between the US and China and China’s worst industrial aviation catastrophe earlier this yr involving a Boeing 737-800 have slowed progress.