News
Everbright orders 30 C919s
June 16th 2017
China Everbright Financial Leasing, a 90% subsidiary of Beijing-based China Everbright Bank, on Tuesday signed a deal for 30 C919s from Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC), raising the total order tally for the C919 to more than 600. Read More »
The C919 had its maiden flight on May 5. It is marketed and designed as a direct competitor to Airbus’ A320 and Boeing’s B737 series. It will be powered exclusively by CFM International LEAP-1C engines.
The Mainland jetliner still has a long way to go before it will enter revenue service with airlines. The test aircraft will likely have to go through years of rigorous certification processes to meet international aviation safety regulations.
COMAC test flight engineering director, You Liyan, told media in Shanghai in May that it could take up to three years for the C919 to get an airworthiness certificate. Once certified, COMAC plans to build up to 50 C919s a year.
By 2035, COMAC aims to own a third of the Mainland narrow body market and a fifth of the global market. It is expected that China will take delivery of more than 5,500 new aircraft worth more than US$670 billion through to 2035.
Some industry analysts believed the C919 will not be competitive either technologically or commercially when it enters service given its strong dependence on foreign suppliers.
