The first Chinese-made passenger jet made its maiden commercial flight today as China looks to compete with industry giants such as Boeing and Airbus in the global aircraft market.
The C919 plane, built by the Commercial Aviation Corporation (COMAC) of China, was carrying about 130 passengers on its first flight, according to the state-run China Daily newspaper. The aircraft took off on Sunday morning from Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport and landed less than two hours later in Beijing.
The flight was operated by state-owned China Eastern Airlines, and the side of the plane read: “The world’s first C919.”
The inaugural flight comes as COMAC tries to break into the single-aisle jet market in a direct challenge to Airbus and Boeing. Airbus A320s and Boeing B737 jets are the most popular aircraft commonly used for domestic and regional flights.
While COMAC designed many of the C919’s components, some of its key components are still sourced from the West, including its engine.
The company plans to build 150 C919 planes every year for the next five years, according to recent reports in Chinese state media.
The C919, which has been in development for 16 years, has a maximum range of about 3,500 miles and is designed to carry between 158 and 168 passengers.
More than 1,200 C919s have been ordered, COMAC says, with China Eastern Airlines under contract to buy five of them.
Source: Associated Press
The first Chinese-made passenger jet made its maiden commercial flight today as China looks to compete with industry giants such as Boeing and Airbus in the global aircraft market.
The C919 plane, built by the Commercial Aviation Corporation (COMAC) of China, was carrying about 130 passengers on its first flight, according to the state-run China Daily newspaper. The aircraft took off on Sunday morning from Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport and landed less than two hours later in Beijing.
The flight was operated by state-owned China Eastern Airlines, and the side of the plane read: “The world’s first C919.”
The inaugural flight comes as COMAC tries to break into the single-aisle jet market in a direct challenge to Airbus and Boeing. Airbus A320s and Boeing B737 jets are the most popular aircraft commonly used for domestic and regional flights.
While COMAC designed many of the C919’s components, some of its key components are still sourced from the West, including its engine.
The company plans to build 150 C919 planes every year for the next five years, according to recent reports in Chinese state media.
The C919, which has been in development for 16 years, has a maximum range of about 3,500 miles and is designed to carry between 158 and 168 passengers.
More than 1,200 C919s have been ordered, COMAC says, with China Eastern Airlines under contract to buy five of them.
Source: Associated Press
The first Chinese-made passenger jet made its maiden commercial flight today as China looks to compete with industry giants such as Boeing and Airbus in the global aircraft market.
The C919 plane, built by the Commercial Aviation Corporation (COMAC) of China, was carrying about 130 passengers on its first flight, according to the state-run China Daily newspaper. The aircraft took off on Sunday morning from Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport and landed less than two hours later in Beijing.
The flight was operated by state-owned China Eastern Airlines, and the side of the plane read: “The world’s first C919.”
The inaugural flight comes as COMAC tries to break into the single-aisle jet market in a direct challenge to Airbus and Boeing. Airbus A320s and Boeing B737 jets are the most popular aircraft commonly used for domestic and regional flights.
While COMAC designed many of the C919’s components, some of its key components are still sourced from the West, including its engine.
The company plans to build 150 C919 planes every year for the next five years, according to recent reports in Chinese state media.
The C919, which has been in development for 16 years, has a maximum range of about 3,500 miles and is designed to carry between 158 and 168 passengers.
More than 1,200 C919s have been ordered, COMAC says, with China Eastern Airlines under contract to buy five of them.
Source: Associated Press
