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China’s COMAC secures 130 new C919 orders from lessors
September 22nd 2017
Mainland manufacturer COMAC this week said the leasing arm of China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Group ordered 20 C919s with options for 20 more; Read More » Huabao Finance & Leasing ordered 15 with options for 15, AVIC International Leasing Co. ordered 15 also with options for 15, and Agricultural Bank of China Financial Leasing Co. ordered 20 with options for 10 more.
The Shanghai-headquartered manufacturer said it has 730 orders for the C919 from 27 customers, although a study of its order book revealed the majority of these commitments are MOUs and LOIs rather than firm orders. The C919 still has a long way to go before it will enter revenue service with airlines.
The jet performed its maiden flight on May 5, but has since stayed on the ground. A second flight is scheduled for next week. The test aircraft will likely have to go through years of rigorous certification processes to meet international aviation safety regulations.
The programme is heavily delayed. When the C919 was first announced in 2010, COMAC was aiming for first delivery in 2016, but the prototype was not unveiled until November 2015 and technical setbacks delayed its maiden flight.
Seating 168 passengers in a single class configuration, the C919 is very similar to the A320 and B737 series. It will be powered exclusively by CFM International LEAP-1C engines.
