Photo: Yahoo News
Two ARJ21-700 planes, China’s first homegrown regional airliners, are ready to be delivered. The announcement was recently made by COMAC’s executive, Tian Min, and is to bring China in the competition of the world’s biggest aircraft makers.
COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has made the announcement two days ago, organizing a press tour at the final assembly and manufacturing center in Shanghai, China. COMAC's executive, Tin Min, said they were ready to deliver their fist regional airliner and were on track to deliver their greater distance-flying regional to customers in 2018.
Although China launched the ARJ21 project in 2002 in an attempt to break into the Western-dominated aircraft market, the delivery was delayed due to technical problems. At first, it was supposed to hit the market in 2007.
The two regional jets have been completed for a Chinese carrier Chengdu Airlines, but, according to the company, 252 orders are to follow. At the moment, COMAC has received 400 orders from 16 customers, including aircraft leasing company GE Capital Aviation Services. Moreover, low cost carrier Ryanair and British arilines have signed memorandums of understanding about their intention to purchase planes, Tian added.
The ARJ21-700 can seat 7 to 90 passengers depending on its configuration, with a range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers (1,300 miles to 2,300 miles). According to the state-owned company, the regional airplane successfully completed test flights in North America in March and April and has flown 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles).
As to the Airbus and Boeing’s Chinese competitor, the single-aisle jet C919, it was designed to seat up to 168 passengers and has a planned range of 4,000 to 5,100 kilometers (2,500 to 3,200 miles).
The Chinese executive would not say what the price for the new aircraft is, nor did he specify what the bigger version of the regional airliner will cost, when ready. But, we are pretty sure that it will be cheaper than let’s say a brand new Boeing 737. The American aircraft that seats up to 132 passengers costs $50 million.
Story Via Yahoo News
Although China launched the ARJ21 project in 2002 in an attempt to break into the Western-dominated aircraft market, the delivery was delayed due to technical problems. At first, it was supposed to hit the market in 2007.
The two regional jets have been completed for a Chinese carrier Chengdu Airlines, but, according to the company, 252 orders are to follow. At the moment, COMAC has received 400 orders from 16 customers, including aircraft leasing company GE Capital Aviation Services. Moreover, low cost carrier Ryanair and British arilines have signed memorandums of understanding about their intention to purchase planes, Tian added.
Chinese version of Boeing and Airbus
As expected, most orders so far came from China’s state-owned airline industry, under government instructions to support the program. But it is reportedly only a matter of time the "yellow dragons" will fly among the Boeings. “We first want to develop our business in China and then gradually we will go to the international market,” COMAC executive told to the reporters.The ARJ21-700 can seat 7 to 90 passengers depending on its configuration, with a range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers (1,300 miles to 2,300 miles). According to the state-owned company, the regional airplane successfully completed test flights in North America in March and April and has flown 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles).
As to the Airbus and Boeing’s Chinese competitor, the single-aisle jet C919, it was designed to seat up to 168 passengers and has a planned range of 4,000 to 5,100 kilometers (2,500 to 3,200 miles).
The Chinese executive would not say what the price for the new aircraft is, nor did he specify what the bigger version of the regional airliner will cost, when ready. But, we are pretty sure that it will be cheaper than let’s say a brand new Boeing 737. The American aircraft that seats up to 132 passengers costs $50 million.
Story Via Yahoo News
Google News