China’s first domestically manufactured passenger plane makes its first commercial flight
BEIJING (AP) — China’s first domestically-made passenger plane made its first commercial flight on Sunday as China seeks to compete with industry giants like Boeing and Airbus in the global aircraft market.
The C919 aircraft, built by the Commercial Aviation Corporation of China, carried about 130 passengers on the flight, according to state-run China Daily newspaper. The jet took off from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport on Sunday morning and landed in Beijing less than two hours later.
The flight was operated by state-owned China Eastern Airlines, and the side of the plane was emblazoned with the inscription: “The world’s first C919.”
With the first flight, COMAC wants to penetrate the market for single-aisle jets and thus challenge Airbus and Boeing directly. Airbus’ A320 and Boeing’s B737 are the most popular aircraft, typically used for domestic and regional flights.
While COMAC designed many parts of the C919, some of its key components are still Western, including the engine.
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According to earlier state media reports, the company plans to build 150 C919 aircraft each year for the next five years.
The C919, which took 16 years to work on, has a maximum range of about 3,500 miles and is designed to carry 158 to 168 passengers.
According to COMAC, over 1,200 C919 jetliners have been ordered, with China Eastern Airlines having a contract to purchase five of them.
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