State manufacturer delivers first single-aisle plane.
China’s move into the aircraft-building industry saw the delivery of the first C919 aircraft to China Eastern Airlines, CEA, this month, the Shanghai-based airline playing a key role in the development of the 164-seat aeroplane.
The state-owned manufacturer COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has already received 300 orders for the model which made its debut appearance at the Zhuhai airshow in Guangdong in November, with the company aiming to compete with the likes of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 going forward.
The first production C919 came complete with the pattern of a Chinese seal which reads “world’s first C919” painted on the front section of the plane. It is a single-aisle, two-class cabin with eight business-class seats, with the middle seat in economy 1.5cm wider than its two neighbours.
The plane has a range of 2,200 nautical miles and features an advanced aerodynamic design as well as lower carbon emissions and higher fuel efficiency than the planes it is looking to replace. It is the first homegrown large passenger aircraft to meet international airworthiness standards and the estimated cost of each C919 is $99million.
Chinese media is reporting that four aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2022 and while the final date has yet to be revealed, the C919 will have its inaugural commercial flight early next year.
