Domestic air travel in China is taking off to new heights.
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If COMAC is able to rise up to the task in time, chances are, it will eventually be able to compete with them, since budget Chinese airlines may prefer ordering cheaper homemade commercial jets.
Ready for take off. This marks the entry of the first Chinese-designed commercial jet into service.
The ARJ21-700 jet, operated by Chengdu Airlines, completed its inaugural voyage in a two-hour flight from the western city of Chengdu to Shanghai, carrying 70 passengers. The flight from Chengdu to Shanghai is around 3 hours.
The ARJ-21, which seats about 90 passengers, was given permission to fly domestically by China’s civil aviation regulators at the end of last year – more than 10 years behind its original schedule. The company has achieved its objective fairly late, since the aircraft was slated to begin commercial operations in fiscal year 2007, after its launch in 2002.
Despite the unremarkable financial return on the project, Comac does not seem to be particularly concerned with the commercial performance of the ARJ-21 as the program itself is a “learning experience” in preparation for the Comac C919, another twin-engined jet airliner scheduled to be introduced in 2019. The first test flight was 6 years later. The carrier plans to use the new jet on other routes as well.
“This is the longest record in the world”. A second ARJ-21 is expected to be delivered to Chengdu Airlines in August.
Image Caption: People pose for pictures as an ARJ21-700, China’s first domestically produced regional jet, arrives at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport after making its first flight from Chengdu to Shanghai, China.
With the current milestone, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) also aims to compete with worldwide companies, including Bombardier Inc (OTCMKTS:BDRBF) and Embraer.
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Reporters work inside Chengdu Airlines ARJ21-700 at Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, June 28, 2016.
